Aug
25
2008
*sigh* If you go for a walk in the Quarter, you’re bound to run into or witness con men (and women) at work. Don’t fall for the oldest scam:
“I bet $5 I know where you got your shoes!”
The answer? “On your feet” Congratulations! You now owe a scam artist cash, and some of the thugs take reneges personally.
Right behind this one is “ I bet you $5 that I can spell your name”
The answer? Y-O-U-R N-A-M-E.
The best way to avoid this? Tell them firmly to go try that trick on somebody else. I always just smile and say, “I’m a local. Have a nice day!”. If the street is busy, you can always avoid eye contact and play deaf.
In the end, if you decide to wager on the street with strangers, I guess you reap what you sow.
Aug
24
2008
Sure, there’s a ton of information about New Orleans online. Still, there are sometimes questions you need a local to answer. One of the often overlooked resources is the local paper’s website, which has forums for each neighborhood or area of the city.
The one for the French Quarter is called the Vieux Carre forum. (Vieux Carre means ‘old square’ and is what the French called the area when they ran the joint.)
To ask a question, you’ll need to register for a screen name. It’s free. Then post it and check back later for the opinions of the locals. You don’t need to register to read the posts, though.
Be warned, however, that this forum has its fair share of trolls and disgruntled out-of-towners trying to scare tourists with bad advice. These will soon be exposed by the helpful posters, though!
Click HERE for a link to the forum so you can check it out for yourself!
Aug
23
2008
Visitors to the French Quarter can have some pretty strange ideas about our drinking laws. These usually turn out to be based on the vacation stories of friends or family. Many vacation tales are as reliable as a fisherman’s account of the one that got away.
Here’s an article I wrote about the 4 most popular drinking myths regarding my neighborhood. It may save you a ticket, or even a stint in the slammer. As the alcohol ads say, drink responsibly.
Although, it was hilarious to hear my visiting sister describe a near miss between a drunk on a Segue and a mule-drawn carriage…
P.S. The protest went ahead as scheduled yesterday. Here’s a link to the story on nola.com.
Aug
21
2008
Or both? *creepy laughter*
Tourists come to New Orleans for many reasons. Some want to experience the most haunted city in America firsthand. Being spooked gives them a thrill, so rock on, ghost hunters!
For the rest of the visitors to our city, don’t be too scared if you think you see movement from the upper stories of restaurants and shops at night. Lots of businesses in the Quarter rent out space on the second and third floors. I live above a restaurant myself.
To the lady who freaked out when I walked by my window the other night, I apologize. You saw a pale chick in a white slip-dress, not a specter. While I do believe there are plenty of spirits around, I’m not one of them, yet anyway! Hope I’m not on YouTube…
Aug
19
2008
Continuing the Kenny Rogers song theme: “There’ll be time enough for counting when the dealing’s done.”
If you have an urgent need to know how much cash you have on your person, please be safe. Go order a Coke in a restaurant and count it inside. Pop into a bank lobby where you‘re surrounded by people counting money.
Make it a point to count your cash before leaving your hotel and keep a running tally in your head. There’s no shortage of ATMs in the Quarter, so if you’re short you can pull more as you need it. Most places in the area take plastic, anyway, or are steps away from a cash machine.
Stay safer on vacation by using common sense! These tips can’t guarantee anyone a safe trip, but there better than counting your money on a busy sidewalk.
Aug
18
2008
There’s a line in a Kenny Rogers song: “You never count your money while you’re sitting at the table.” How about when you’re walking down the street? Or standing in the middle of a busy sidewalk?
I see this every day in the French Quarter, just by glancing out of my kitchen window. In my adult life, I’ve lived in many places ranging from small towns to big cities, yet this is a new one to me. I get nervous using an ATM, much less standing on a street corner counting my dough!
Crime statistics can be terrifying, but this behavior isn’t going to help them improve. What thug worth his salt is going to pass up an opportunity like this? Sometimes, at street level, you can hear the guy/gal counting out loud. That should save the crooks some time.
Next: Where to count your money if you must
