As the first big festival after Mardi Gras, Saint Patrick’s Day is welcomed by all as both an homage to the Irish Culture and an indicator that spring is just around the corner!  Common celebrations include block parties and parades, often based around neighborhood and community organizations.  Of course, the French Quarter boasts multiple parades to honor the Irish, and you may even see some floats from Mardi Gras reused during the parade.  During these processions, do not be surprised to catch a potato or cabbage thrown from the floats!

The NOLA annual Irish Channel St. Parade begins at 1pm on Saturday, March 17, 2011, and passes within only a few blocks 0f our New Orleans bed and breakfast, so guests have easy access for a great spot on the parade route during their stay!

Traveling to New Orleans before Saint Patricks Day weekend?  You can still partake in some of the fun!  A Saint Patricks Day Parade will be held on Metairie Road on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at noon.  Just 6 miles NNW of the inn, you can easily take a streetcar up for the event.  There may be other events happening throughout the week prior to the holiday, and we can let you know more about these during your stay.

No matter what you do for the Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, be sure to wear your green, as this tradition is actively upheld in the city – no green, and you are likely to find yourself pinched!

So come to enjoy a stay with us at the Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast for your Saint Patty’s day, New Orleans vacation!

Sentinels of the refined, elegant southern Louisiana lifestyle of our rural roots, many New Orleans area plantations still stand today to remind us of times which have passed in favor of a more frantic life.

Malus Beauregard House – just outside of town in Chalmette, LA.  Although not classified as a plantation, this home has housed several wealthy families during the nineteenth century and sits on the site of the Chalmette battlefield.  Open from 9 am to 4:30 pm, parking and tours are free.

Bocage Plantation – Darrow, LA.  Tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday from 12 pm to 5pm.  Cost is $20 per person, children under 12 are free.

Destrehan Plantation*- Destrehan, LA.  This historically active plantation offers craft demonstrations on weekdays, including open hearth cooking, bousillage construction (how many structures were built), indigo dyeing, candle making, African American herbal remedies, and carpentry.  Tours in French are offered on Tuesday and Friday.  Tours are 9am to 4pm daily, except on major holidays.  Cost is $15 for adults, $5 for children 6-16, and children under 6 are free.

Houmas House* – Darrow, LA.  This plantation boasts the ghost of a little girl on the grounds!  They offer a chartered tour originating from the French Quarter: $59 for adults and $40 for children.

Laura Plantation* – Vacherie, LA.  Open daily except for major Holidays.  Their 70-minute guided tours are offered from 10am to 4pm.  Parking is free.  Admission is $18 for adults, $5 for children 6-17, and children under 6 are free.  $1 discounts for AAA, National Trust, Military and We Save adult admission applies.  Tours in French are offered at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm.

Nottoway Plantation – White Castle, LA.  Open 7 days a week, 9am to 4pm (except for major holidays).  Guided tour admission of the mansion and grounds is $20 for adults, $6 for children 6-12, and children under 6 are free.  AAA, Senior, and Military discounts are offered.  Self-guided tours of the grounds only are $8 for adults, children 12 and under are free.  A lunch/afternoon cafe is open onsite from Thursday through Sunday each week.

Oak Alley Plantation* – Vacherie, LA.  Open daily except major holidays, 9am to 6pm.  Admission is $18 for adults, $7.50 for teens 13-18, and $4.50 for children 6-12.  Children under 6 are free.  Guided tours of the Big House are given by guides in period costume.  A self-guided walking tour is also available.  Senior, AAA, and Military discounts are offered.

San Francisco Plantation* – Garyville, LA.  Gates open between 9-9:30am and the last tour is offered between 4-4:40pm (hours vary slightly depending on season).  Closed on major holidays.  Tours are given by guides in period attire.  Admission is $15 for adults, $7 for students, children 6 and under are free.  AAA and Military discount is offered.

*You do not have to have a car to get to some of the best locations.  A tour can be arranged right from the front door of the Inn for these exciting examples of early Louisiana plantation life.  Just ask your Innkeeper for all the details.

Following an amazing dinner at a nearby restaurant, curl up in your cozy bed at our New Orleans bed and breakfast and dream of life in the genteel south!

Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” is actually a French Catholic tradition in relation to Lent.  It is the practice of eating richer, fattier foods in excess on a final night before Lenten season fasting begins on Ash Wednesday in remembrance of the Holy Week before Easter.  Mardi Gras is slowly spreading throughout the United States as a reason to celebrate, but Mardi Gras actually arrived in Louisiana with the Le Moyne brothers in 1699.  Sent by King Louis XIV to defend France’s claim on the area of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana in America, the brothers traveled up the Mississippi River and made camp about 60 miles downriver of where New Orleans is today.  The day they made camp happened to be France’s Mardi Gras day.  So you could say that the New Orleans area had a hand in starting Mardi Gras, even though the actual celebration wasn’t established until Mobile was settled in 1702.

Mardi Gras has since become synonymous with New Orleans itself.  And festivities begin long before Lent.  The Mardi Gras parade season begins on Saturday, February 4, 2012, and continues to Mardi Gras day itself on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.  Celebrations can range from simply jovial to downright risque, and experiencing them is like nothing you’ve ever done before!

Our inn is the perfect place to be during Mardi Gras!  All 26 Mardi Gras parades march down St. Charles Avenue and in front of our front door, making Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast the perfect place to stay while safely and conveniently enjoying event festivities!  If you do feel the need to celebrate at “ground zero,” we are just minutes away from the French Quarter via the streetcars which stop just outside the house.

Come down for the Mardi Gras events themselves, or better yet, plan a longer visit and combine your February, 2012 New Orleans vacation with one of our great celebration packages and kill two birds with one stone.  New Orleans is the perfect place for you to get away from the norm, celebrate the occasion, and enjoy the unique!

We still have a few choice rooms available so call now to reserve your spot.  Its a five-night minimum stay during Mardi Gras, but the visit is the experience of a lifetime!

Running through through January 1, 2012, this  festival of lights is one of the most beautiful in the country.  Last year saw over 122,000 people visit our holiday light event!

Featuring over 12 acres of exhibits, there is plenty to do and see at Celebration in the Oaks.  In fact, one night may not be enough time to enjoy it all!  Enjoy a stroll through the Botanical Garden, take the kids to the Storyland childrens theme park, enjoy the 16 rides in Carousel Gardens, skate some time away at the ice rink, and don’t miss the unique shopping experience in Artist Village featuring items made by local artists!  Lights abound at every turn, so the beauty of the event can be enjoyed throughout the park.

When:  through January 1, 2012 (closed December 24, 2011 and December 31, 2011)
Hours: Sunday thru Thursday: 6:00 – 10:00 p.m., Friday evenings: 6:00 – 11:00 p.m., Saturday evenings: 6:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Admission:  $7 per person, children under 3 are free
Rides:  $3 per single ride, or $17 for unlimited-ride wrist-band

Please note that tickets must be purchased in advance and presented for admission.  If you forget, Avenue Inn innkeepers will gladly help you obtain tickets.

Celebration in the Oaks is a great way to celebrate the Holidays, and a perfect New Years Day activity.  Spend Christmas and New Years at our gorgeous New Orleans inn, catch the streetcar to City Park and Celebration in the Oaks, and then return to enjoy the warm, inviting comfort of your favorite guestroom at the inn!

Featuring handmade jewelry collections, original sculptures by local artists, and traditional sculptures from Bali, you are sure to find something for the art-lover on your shopping list.  Bring your Tulane student ID and get an extra 10% off (not valid with any other offers).

While at the Gallery, enjoy “In the Spirit of Shozo” – the first posthumous exhibition of Japanese-American master painter Shozo Nagano, on display until December 31, 2011.  Also on display are a selection of photographs from New Orleans’ annual PhotoNOLA event.  Also on display are items from the Gallery’s Collection.

Gallery Veriditas is located at 3822 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115.  Gallery Hours are Tues-Thurs 11-6, Fri 11-7, Sat 12-7.

If you would like further information about the shopping event, feel free to contact us at the Avenue Inn!

What is PhotoNOLA?  The event is an annual festival of photography consisting of photo exhibitions, workshops, benefits, artist talks, and more.  Events take place throughout the city between Saturday, December 3, 2011 through Tuesday, December 13, 2011, and many are open to the public.  Most events are free, however some require a preliminary sign-up.  Events take place near the Central Business District.

PhotoNOLA is presented by the New Orleans Photo Alliance each year, in partnership with city galleries, museums and photographers.

Choose one of Avenue Inn’s eight beautiful rooms to stay in during your PhotoNOLA experience.  We look forward to hosting you!

The biennial remains focused on building a contemporary art tourism infrastructure utilizing a  signature event that brings together local art creation and entrepreneurial activity, while attracting tens of thousands of art lovers to New Orleans every-other-year.
Dan Cameron, creator of Prospect New Orleans, is an internationally recognized art museum curator and exhibition organizer. Some of his past credits include the biennials of Istanbul, Turkey and Taipei, Taiwan.
Prospect.2′s current list of artists includes 27 artists from countries that include: the United States, France, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Japan, Chile, and Vietnam. This year’s biennial also features work by artists who call New Orleans home, as well as a variety of site-specific projects inspired by the city’s distinctive history and culture.

These artists are exhibiting their work in Prospect.2 (nationalities are in parentheses):

•    Sophie Calle (France)
•    Nick Cave (USA)
•    Jonas Dahlberg (Sweden)
•    Bruce Davenport Jr. (USA)
•    Dawn Dedeaux (USA)
•    R. Luke DuBois (USA)
•    George Dunbar (USA)
•    Keith Duncan (USA)
•    William Eggleston (USA)
•    Nicole Eisenman (France)
•    Karl Haendel (USA)
•    Ragnar Kjartansson (Iceland)
•    William Pope (USA)
•    An-My Lê (Vietnam)
•    Ivan Navarro (Chile)
•    Lorraine O’Grady (USA)
•    Tsuyoshi Ozawa (Japan)
•    Gina Phillips (USA)
•    Ashton T. Ramsey (USA)
•    Alexis Rockman (USA)
•    Joyce J. Scott (USA)
•    Jennifer Steinkamp (USA)
•    Dan Tague (USA)
•    Robert Tannen (USA)
•    Grazia Toderi (Italy)
•    Francesco Vezzoli (Italy)
•    Pawel Wojtasik (Poland)

In addition to the projects organized by Prospect.2, a number of artists, including Canadian sculptor Michel de Broin, environmental artist Brandon Ballengee, and Seattle-based Don and Patricia Fels, are premiering their work simultaneously in New Orleans.
Works will be shown at sites throughout diverse neighborhoods and other locales in New Orleans, including:
•    Tremé
•    St. Claude Avenue
•    The Warehouse Arts District
•    City Park
•    Tulane University
•    Xavier University
•    New Orleans Museum of Art
•    Isaac Delgado Art Gallery
•    Arts Village
•    New Orleans African American Museum
•    New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation
•    Ogden Museum of Southern Art
•    Contemporary Arts Center
•    Newcomb Art Gallery
•    UNO St. Claude Gallery

For more information on Prospect.2 New Orleans, visit www.prospectneworleans.org or contact U.S. Biennial, Inc. at (212) 680-5305. To book a room in the city, check out New Orleans lodging deals.

In recent months we have sent guests staying at our New Orleans Bed and Breakfast over to the brewery on Friday afternoons at 2:00pm for a tour of the facilities. The tour is usually guided by founder Kirk Coco and all have returned to the Inn saying that they enjoyed the experience and the free samples.

According to the brew master at NOLA brewery, the finest available ingredients are used in their beers. They include: English, Belgian, German, and American hops, a variety of malts from around the world, unique yeast blends and Peter Caddoo’s special touch.

Blonde Ale was the very first ale created and released in March 2009; it is a great introductory medium-bodied traditional American blonde ale.

Brown Ale is a brewery favorite; a light-bodied, full flavored English dark mild ale with notes of chocolate, coffee, caramel, and nuts.

Hopitoulas was the third addition to the year-round beer portfolio. It is a West Coast style India Pale Ale that combines 6 malts and 6 hops with additional dry hopping for three weeks.

“7th Street Wheat” started out as a Summer seasonal, but due to its popularity has made its place in their year round ales.  Named in honor of the 7th Street wharf across the street from the brewery, this filtered wheat ale is light-bodied American style with pounds of fresh lemon-basil added after fermentation.

Hurricane Saison, is NOLA brewery’s seasonal ale. It gets it’s name from the Flemish word meaning “season”. Brewed with five different types of malts, including un-malted raw wheat, pilsner and aromatic malts, Hurricane Saison also contains three types of hops: Sterling, Kent Goldings, and Styrian Goldings. Hurricane Saison is only available during the spring months.

Joe and Bebe, Innkeepers at the Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast will be happy to give you directions to the brewery. Come on down to New Orleans and enjoy the fun.

One can stroll along this historic corridor (where Jewish deli, butcher and bakery shops used to call home) and visit diverse boutique shops, restaurants and bars. We took some friends there this past weekend and we were pleasantly surprised at what has been done in the past 18 months to improve and redefine the street. It’s our opinion that guests to our New Orleans Bed and Breakfast will be drawn this little neighborhood diamond in the rough as the district continues to grow and prosper.

The Freret Business and Property Owner Association formed the group to promote business on the Freret Corridor from Jefferson Avenue to Napoleon Avenue. Their mission is to establish an image that Freret Street is a safe, vibrant, easily accessible destination for shopping, dining and play. And it seemed to us that they have made good on their objective so far.

One of the main stays of the FBPOA is the Freret market. It’s held at the intersection of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue on the first Saturday of each month between September and June. The market is split up along three category lines: food, art, and flea. The Saturday event is a good place to relax and find a unique item, and is important part of the renaissance on Freret Street.

In the second block on Freret (from Napoleon Ave.) , we discovered several restaurants, bars and even a boxing gym of all things,  that sponsors “Friday Night Boxing Events” for the public.

Guests that have booked New Orleans lodging with us will want to check out   Sarita’s Grill featuring Latin American fusion cuisine; salad bowls, burritos, tacos, entrees and flan are made with fresh local ingredients. The food was tasty and authentic. We were waited on by Sarita herself and she made quite an impression with her enthusiasm and focused attention on her business and guest satisfaction.

Other notable food establishments in that section of the venue included: High Hat, Dat Dog, Cure and Ancora Pizzeria & Salumeria. We’ll be writing about them soon. Can’t wait to go back!

• Take a stroll through the roof shaded French Market, and enjoy a cool fruit smoothie or gelato at one of the many unique food and beverage emporiums.
  The newly renovated French market is a great place to enjoy cool drinks at venues like the Organic Banana. Check out health food restaurants like Meals From the Heart Cafe, where you can order light low fat menu items that won’t make you feel overstuffed and uncomfortable in the heat.
• Check out one of the city’s unique movie theater experiences.
  Escape the hottest part of our summer afternoons by spending a couple hours in a chilling, dark state of the art theater. You’ll be stunned with the visual documentary at the Entergy IMAX Theater, part of the Audubon Nature Institute, or blown away with the Tom Hanks-produced 4-D Beyond All Boundaries experience at the Solomon Victory Theater at The National WWII Museum.
• Lick an icy snowball.
  Cool it with a taste treat kids love and adults crave — a colorful, shaved ice snowball. It’s a New Orleans “must have” staple; these delightful, icy confections come in a huge range of colors and unique flavors. Check out the sophisticated varieties like honey almond, honeydew melon or orchid cream vanilla.  And don’t for get to ask for one stuffed with ice cream and topped with evaporated milk and chocolate syrup.
• It’s Cool at the Cool Zoo.
  Cool off the kids at the Audubon Zoo’s new splash park, Cool Zoo, where exciting water features and three splash zones make hot summer days a real cool blast. By the way, we are one of the few New Orleans bed and breakfasts that accept families with kids five and up.
• Chill with a frozen daiquiri.
  Are you a multi-tasker? Why not cool off with one of these potent beverages while celebrating the laid-back vibe of New Orleans at the same time? Walk-up daiquiri stands are all around the city and in the New Orleans French Quarter so act like a local and pick up one of these refreshing adult beverages to beat the heat.
• Win the coolest casino games.
  Spend a few hours away from the sun at Harrah’s New Orleans, where more than 100 live table games and 2,100 slot machines will give you plenty to do in a superbly air-conditioned environment. It’s cool to win.
• You’ll be cool when you escape into stunning artwork.
  Avoid a hot day by being among the paintings, sculptures and other artwork at the New Orleans Museum of Art . Walk through more than 40,000 historic and contemporary art objects and soak up some culture within the cool, stone walls of the museum.
• The coolest exhibit this side of the Smithsonian! Visit the WWII Museum.
  Walk through permanent and special exhibits at the National WWII Museum, and see massive relics from this epic war, such as a Sherman tank, jeeps and a restored C-47 aircraft. By far, the best thing to do in New Orleans. Very cool.
• Explore the Riverwalk.
  Make it a mini day trip in the cool embrace of air conditioning. Indulge in a little retail therapy at the Riverwalk Marketplace, where you can satisfy your shopping addiction in the hundreds of shops and restaurants. Just outside the mall, stroll along the river levee and catch a cool breeze coming off the mighty Mississippi.
• Meet the coolest underwater creatures at the aquarium.
  Walk through an underwater tunnel made of glass, pet a perky stingray and get an up-close and personal glimpse of sea creatures in their marine habitats. You’ll be instantly transported to a world away from the summer heat and into an exciting adventure Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana,

But above all of these,  is our favorite during that weekend and one of the favorites of our guests here at the Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast. It’s the Greek Festival on Bayou St. John not far from City Park and the French Quarter. The festival features fantastic Greek food offerings, live music concerts and plenty of Greek culture.

The Festival is located on the campus of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, a Byzantine Cathedral established in 1866 as the first Greek Orthodox Church in the United States. The address is 1200 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, on the edge of Bayou St. John, an inner city waterway.

We love this event because there is so much to do. There are tours of the cathedral, the Hellenic dancers on stage all afternoon, an authentic Greek band, and lots of booths with everything from Roasted Spring Lamb from the rotisserie to frozen Greek Yogurt and Baklava. We just can’t get enough of the Fried Calamari and the salads with feta cheese, olives and imported Greek Oregano.

Spring lamb, Greek Festival, New Orleans

For fun and some calorie burning, you can challenge yourself on the Mount Olympus climbing wall or you can rent a canoe for a relaxing ride on Bayou St. John.

The festival operates daily May 27- 29, 2011; Friday from 5 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Saturday from 11:00 to 11:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 9:00. Admission is $5.00.

If you’ve never tried authentic Greek food, here’s your chance while visiting a New Orleans bed and breakfast. As they exclaim in Greece at a wild soccer game…..”Opa! Opa!” It’s equivalent of our “Who Dat” here in New Orleans. Loosely translated, it means “you go.”  And we suggest ‘you go” to the Greek Festival this Memorial weekend.

National WWII Museum, New Orleans

It’s been somewhat of a secret for the past 11 years since its opening in 2000, but as time has marched on, so has the reputation of this world class venue. Founded by respected historian, author and scholar, Dr. Stephen Ambrose, the National World War II Museum opened on June 6 of that year to the thrill of visitors, veterans and locals. It is the only museum in the United States that details all of the amphibious invasions or “D-Days” of World War II and pays tribute to more than 16 million Americans who took part in this worldwide conflict.

It was here in New Orleans, LA that ship designer and builder, Andrew Higgins was awarded the contract to build the specialized landing craft that was used in the invasion of France. President Eisenhower believed and stated that Higgins innovation “won the war for the Allies.” Accordingly, Ambrose set out to have the museum built in the place where the beginning to the end of the war was set in motion.

When our guests first arrive at the Inn, we spend a few minutes discussing the most popular attractions available to them. The Museum is top on our list, but we always get a somewhat skeptical response from everyone not a history or military buff.  So we urge them to give it a try and we have never failed to receive an “awesome” or similar exclamation upon their return from a day “visiting history”.

Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast guest with Victory Bells

The museum has exhibits, a theatre showing a 4-D film narrated by Tom Hanks, a playhouse with scheduled weekend and matinee shows featuring “The Victory Bells” with song and dance from the 40’s. You can also enjoy a 40’s menu at the American Sector, a John Besh signature restaurant.

The National World War II Museum is a monument to the men and women who made the invasions in Europe, Africa and the Pacific theaters a complete success. It is truly “awesome” and a must see when you visit the Crescent City and a New Orleans bed and breakfast near the museum. Give us a call to check availability.

Bogalusa-One hour

Christmas in the Park 

November 26 – 29

Held at Cassidy Park. The festival runs from Thanksgiving through Christmas and is also called the Festival of Holiday Lights. You can drive or walk through the festive display. Santa is there nightly with over a million lights and concessions onsite.

For more information, visit bogalusa.org/Citypgs/calendar

Delcambre- Two hours

Delcambre Holiday Gumbo Cook-off & Boat Parade 

December 5

Held at Shrimp Festival Grounds. Gumbo cook-off & Christmas boat parade on the bayou, with Santa Claus.

For more information, visit iberiatravel.com

Grand Cane-Five hours

Pioneer Christmas Parade & Trade Day   

December 5, 10:00am

Featuring an all horse/mule vehicle drawn parade, plus vendor booths, entertainment, pioneer demonstrations, food, and more.

For more information, visit shreveportbossierfunguide.com

Houma-One hour, fifteen minutes

Once upon a Cajun Christmas Parade 

December 4, 7:00pm

Located at Terrebonne High School. Annual Downtown Christmas Parade sponsored by Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government. “Papa Noel” arrives in a twenty float Christmas Parade from Terrebonne High School and travels down Main Street to the Courtsquare where crowds have gathered to greet him and Mrs. Claus. There is caroling and lighting of the Christmas tree.

For more information, call 985-873-6408.

Metairie-Twenty minutes

Beaujolais Day, Corks N Canvas Painting & Wine Soiree, and Live Music 

November 21, 12:00pm – 4:00pm

Held at Whole Foods Market Veterans. The Whole Foods Market Veterans store will unveil its exclusive Beaujolais Nouveau 2009 label. Guests will sample the Beaujolais as well as other French wine and cheese pairings. Corks N Canvas will be on-hand to facilitate a contest for guests to paint the exclusive 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau label and Some Like It Hot will provide live music.

For more information, call Corks N Canvas to reserve a spot at (504) 832-5536.

New Iberia-Two hours

New Iberia Christmas Parade 

November 30, 6:00pm

Located on Main St. This event features a Christmas parade with Santa Claus, marching bands, and dance groups, and much more.

For more information, visit iberiatravel.com

New Orleans-Ten minutes

XXXVI State Farm Bayou Classic 

November 28, 1:00pm – 5:00pm

Held at the Louisiana Superdome. This is a unique family fellowship that exists within a football game. This has become the greatest and most distinguishable sporting event in all of Black America. It’ll be another terrific game this year as the Grambling State University Tigers and Southern University Jaguars football teams line up on the field to battle it out!

For more information, visit statefarmbayouclassic.com

New Orleans - Ten minutes

Kentucky Colonel 

December 3, 6:30pm

Located at Bourbon House. The State of Kentucky is bestowing the honor of “Kentucky Colonel” to Dickie Brennan for all he’s done to promote and foster an appreciation of Bourbon. To celebrate, this is a 5 course dinner paired with bourbon plus cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

For more information, email nobs@bourbonhouse.com

Patterson- One hour, thirty minutes

Idlewild Plantation Christmas Lighting 

November 29 – December 31, 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Held at Kemper Williams Park. Take a driving tour along a path filled with elaborate displays of Christmas lights, with holiday music enhancing the drive. 

For more information, visit cajuncoast.com/public/events

Robert-One hour, fifteen minutes

Louisiana Renaissance Festival

November 27 – 29

Located at Village of Albright. Enjoy live jousting, free-flying birds of prey, seven stages of Renaissance entertainment, glassblowing, blacksmithing and pottery demonstrations, along with over 100 merchant booths.

For more information, visit larf.org

Shreveport -Five Hours

Rockets Over the Red 

November 28

Located at RiverView Park. Fantastic fireworks show shot from two barges in the Red River and from the Texas Street Bridge kicks off the holiday season in downtown Shreveport. There will be live entertainment, the KCS Holiday Express, Party Central games for the kids, and food and beverage vendors.

For more information, visit downtownshreveport.com

St.Francisville-Two Hours

Chamber Music Series 

December 4, 7:00pm

Held at Hemingbough. The St. Francisville Symphony Association presents the 2009-2010 Chamber Music Series, featuring the musicians of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.

For tickets, call 225-383-0500.

The Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast is now accepting reservations for the last week of November through Christmas weekend. Call now for our Papa Noel rates starting at $79 per night weekdays for a traditional queen accommodation with private bathroom.

Learn more about these exciting experiences courtesy of the Greater New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau:

State Farm Bayou Classic: November 28, 2009, don’t miss Grambling State University and Southern University in this annual match-up that represents the best that collegiate sports have to offer: teamwork, tradition, passion and fierce competition! [more]

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: December 20, 2009, the best of the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA face off at the Louisiana Superdome. [more]

Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic: A tradition since 1935, the Sugar Bowl is a must-watch annual American college football bowl game, January 1, 2010, at the Louisiana Superdome. [more] 

New Orleans Saints: For this first time in franchise history, the New Orleans Saints are 8-0. Tailgate, turn on your TV, visit Ticket Exchange or just chant “Who Dat.” [more] 

So whether you are a sports fan or just a fan of the good life, give us a call today and get all the details on availability and rates. Our toll free number is 1-800-490-8542. Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast: Don’t Just Visit New Orleans, Live It!

   Begin your get-a-way with a tour that includes Christmas decorated French Quarter, Jackson Square, and Canal Street. You also won’t want to miss the Celebration in the Oaks at City Park- a spectacular vision of the season with its million lights-one you won’t soon forget.

   The Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast is only a few blocks from famed Magazine Street, with its six miles of quaint little shops, bistros and galleries just perfect for filling your gift list.

    Local tour companies offer unique experiences for the whole family like Grayline’s Bonfire Adventure along the Mississippi, lighting the way for Papa Noel. They also feature a special holiday tour of New Orleans, “Jingling through the Crescent City”.

    If you stay with us on Christmas day, your kids can look for gifts that Santa dropped off under our tree in the Grand Parlor (supplied by Mom and Dad, Santa’s helpers). The Innkeepers will supply plenty of hot chocolate and tasty treats for gift opening all morning.

    There are festivities happening all season long and we know just where to send you for the best entertainment experiences. Jazz on Frenchman Street, Caroling in Jackson Square or a holiday performance at the La Petite Theater.

    Plan to spend two or more nights with us and take advantage of our Jing-a-Ling rates starting at $79 per night plus tax weekdays for a Boutique Queen from December 10-27th, 2009, weekend rates slightly higher. This offer is subject to availability. Special events, holidays and convention periods may not be applicable. Call Toll Free 800-490-8542 for details. 

1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, 504-488-2631

If you are planning a trip to New Orleans, adding the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) to your “to do” list is a must. At NOMA, treasured artwork valued at over $200 million is open to the public everyday. The collection of 40,000 objects is sure to impress, ranging from French and American art to photography, African and Japanese works and everything in between. The world-class venue located in City Park also features the five-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Get lost in the natural beauty as you wander amongst 200-year-old live oaks, mature pines, magnolias and of course, the 50 unique sculptures situated on the exquisitely landscaped site.

For those visiting New Orleans during this time period, consider including an evening at NOMA. The Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast is located on the streetcar line which can take you to City Park.  Fare for the trip is $1.25 each way or you may want to purchase day pass for $5.00 for unlimited riding all over the city.

Wednesday, September 30, 6 p.m.
Youth Manifesto Tour with Skylar Fein
Join artist Skylar Fein for a tour of his first solo museum exhibition, Skylar Fein: Youth Manifesto. The tour is part of the Mid-Week in Mid-City series of public programs on Wednesday evenings, when the Museum stays open late until 8 p.m.

Wednesday, October 7, 6 p.m.
Six Shooters
The New Orleans Photo Alliance presents the second installment in its ongoing “Six Shooters” series. Six New Orleans-based photographers from various photographic disciplines-commercial, documentary, editorial, educational, fine art and photojournalism-will participate in a moderated discussion about their creative processes, inspirations and intentions.
Saturday, October 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Art of Caring “Caring Partners” Finale

A community awareness day with all of the “Caring Partners” from seven weeks of Saturday afternoon events. More than 30 organizations have worked with the Museum, including National Hospice Foundation, AARP, Covenant House, American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Make It Right Foundation, East Jefferson General Hospital Wellness Center, Louisiana SPCA and dozens more. Learn more about the important work being done by all of these organizations at this very special meet-up to mark the final weekend of The Art of Caring: A Look at Life through Photography.

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