Bachelour Party in New Orleans February 8-14 Mardi Gras

[gkatyal]

I have been tasked with setting up a night out while in New Orleans from February 8-14th of 2013. The Mardi Gras parade is on the 12th so that is a gimme to attend, but I have never been to this area of the States and I am hoping for some suggestions as to what we can do. Any ideas that can be tossed my way will be greatly appreciated.

[MoneyGuy]

If you like WWII history, once you're tired of the partying there is a great WWII museum. There are Katrina tours that are sobering if you need sobering up. Lots of wonderful restaurants.

[Table 5]

Commanders Palace is a pretty great restaurant that you might want to think about as your "fancy dinner" place.

I'd recommend doing one of those swamp tours as well, as you get to see a ton of animals (gators etc) and Katrina wreckage in the swamps. Go with one of the smaller operators.

Personally, I thought the whole Bourbon St thing was the worst part of New Orleans (pretty much just full of drunk tourists), but I'm sure it's much better during the actual parade. Plus during a bachelor party, you kinda have to do that.

[SportsJunky]

Just go down to the French Quarter for the night. It is unbelievable what you will see during Mardi Gras. You will be able to go from bar to bar carrying your drinks and meeting tons of people. The music will blow your mind. It is like a Stampede pub crawl with better music. You don't need to plan anything. There are strip clubs down there right on Bourbon Street. As a matter of fact, don't go off of Bourbon Street. Things get a little sketchy once you veer off from the crowds.

[Sainters7]

^
That's what I was gonna say, there's so many bars/restaurants that I'd just wonder around and let the wind carry ya. During Mardi Gras, it's gonna be so freakin packed that it'd probably be hard to plan ahead what exact bar you wanna go to, etc, probably just take a look where you can get in. You'll have an awesome time regardless, as mentioned, there's what feels almost like a never-ending amount of bars there.

Only place I'd specifically recommend that I've been to is Patty O'Brien's (restaurant). Awesome Cajun food, and their Hurricane drink is the reason I'm recommending it. A mix of a bunch of different drinks, and so tasty. I was pretty much on my *** after 1.

[GreenLantern]

Ohhhh lawwwdy... that's going to be a good time. Prostitutes, but not for the groom, you aren't trying to break up a marriage, just have a good time.

[gargamel]

During the day, you absolutely must go to Willie Mae's Scotch House for some cornbread and the world's best fried chicken. There will be a long line by the time you're awake, but it's worth it. Also, it's in the Treme, so you can see some of the effects of Katrina without going on a full Katrina tour (which, in my opinion, would be a terrible bachelor party activity).

In the early evening, go to Parkway Bakery & Tavern for amazing po-boys. The shrimp and roast beef combo is my favorite, but you really can't go wrong there. They have a solid beer selection too.

At night, you don't need a plan. Just head to Bourbon Street. I'd probably start at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and pub/club crawl my way to Canal Street, but anywhere between those two points should be fun.

As for strip clubs, The Penthouse Club is the best in the French Quarter, and it's just a half block off of Bourbon Street on Iberville. Hustler, Barely Legal and Deja Vu are your three best options directly on Bourbon Street. At any of them, you can pay a few bucks extra to go upstairs where you'll have access to the balconies overlooking the street. Usually, that's not worth it, but it will be the perfect place to toss some beads during Mardi Gras. Unfortunately, Visions, the best strip club in town, is a 15 minute cab ride from anywhere else that you'd want to be. If you're bored during the day or if you have a few nights in town, it could be worth a visit, but I wouldn't sacrifice Bourbon Street time to go there.

[Cowboy89]

I put together a bachelor party in New Orleans last year. One thing we did on top of all the partying on Bourbon was go to a gun range. Another pro tip is that it's going to unbelievably crowded so we had neon green t-shirts made up so it was easier to stay together.

[troutman]

That week might be the best/worst time to be in New Orleans, depending on your group. I imagine rooms will be hard to find, and will be expensive. Bourbon Street will be over-run with frat boys?

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by troutman

That week might be the best/worst time to be in New Orleans, depending on your group. I imagine rooms will be hard to find, and will be expensive. Bourbon Street will be over-run with frat boys?

Ya, its probably a sign I'm just getting older & further removed from my givin er days, but my first thought was this would actually be kind of a bad time to go, as a lot of the cool stuff to see/do on the Quarter will be tough because of how packed it'll be during Mardi Gras.

...then I took into account its a bachelor party, which makes it an awesome time to be there. Boobies!

[pylon]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Ohhhh lawwwdy... that's going to be a good time. Prostitutes, but not for the groom, you aren't trying to break up a marriage, just have a good time.

No joke. I went to a bachelor party in 1999 that had 3 divorces as a direct result. One of the dumb asses there decided to chronicle the whole thing with his new fangly digital camera, and in 1999 people were still a little naive with the whole digital files being shared/zip your emails with a password thing. One of the wives opened an email, and the rest is history. Once the pictures started circulating, it was game over for 3 of the guys in attendance.

I saw things that night, I only thought existed in college movies, and on the dancing bear website. Just switch the genders of the 'hired help' around. I will never forget some of the things I witnessed that night.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

If you like WWII history, once you're tired of the partying there is a great WWII museum. There are Katrina tours that are sobering if you need sobering up. Lots of wonderful restaurants.

Best Bachelor Party. Ever.

[TopChed]

Originally Posted by pylon

No joke. I went to a bachelor party in 1999 that had 3 divorces as a direct result. One of the dumb asses there decided to chronicle the whole thing with his new fangly digital camera, and in 1999 people were still a little naive with the whole digital files being shared/zip your emails with a password thing. One of the wives opened an email, and the rest is history. Once the pictures started circulating, it was game over for 3 of the guys in attendance.

I saw things that night, I only thought existed in college movies, and on the dancing bear website. Just switch the genders of the 'hired help' around. I will never forget some of the things I witnessed that night.

But how were the WWII museums?

[Tiger]

internet has killed Mardi Gras really... you'll notice lots of creepy old guys with cameras, but it is fun. You'll never see so many people on a tiny street in your life. catch a parade (or several, there are many different ones) before hitting the french quarter, they are actually really cool. I would say that unless you are really drinkers the 8th-14th is too long in New Orleans.

I would try to catch a NBA game for something to do.

Other advice... even though it is free entry, don't waste your time at big daddy's strip club unless you really want to slum it.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by TopChed

But how were the WWII museums?

Not nearly as awesome as the burnt out husks of homes at Katrina ground zero.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by pylon

No joke. I went to a bachelor party in 1999 that had 3 divorces as a direct result. One of the dumb asses there decided to chronicle the whole thing with his new fangly digital camera, and in 1999 people were still a little naive with the whole digital files being shared/zip your emails with a password thing. One of the wives opened an email, and the rest is history. Once the pictures started circulating, it was game over for 3 of the guys in attendance.

I saw things that night, I only thought existed in college movies, and on the dancing bear website. Just switch the genders of the 'hired help' around. I will never forget some of the things I witnessed that night.

This story needs more details.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Table 5

This story needs more details.

Yes, I agree. Pylon, tell us more about this Dancing Bear website!!!

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by pylon

No joke. I went to a bachelor party in 1999 that had 3 divorces as a direct result. One of the dumb asses there decided to chronicle the whole thing with his new fangly digital camera, and in 1999 people were still a little naive with the whole digital files being shared/zip your emails with a password thing. One of the wives opened an email, and the rest is history. Once the pictures started circulating, it was game over for 3 of the guys in attendance.

I saw things that night, I only thought existed in college movies, and on the dancing bear website. Just switch the genders of the 'hired help' around. I will never forget some of the things I witnessed that night.

So you're going to post the pictures now, right?

[saskflames69]

Super Bowl's in New Orleans this year.

[Rudee]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Just go down to the French Quarter for the night. It is unbelievable what you will see during Mardi Gras. You will be able to go from bar to bar carrying your drinks and meeting tons of people. The music will blow your mind. It is like a Stampede pub crawl with better music. You don't need to plan anything. There are strip clubs down there right on Bourbon Street. As a matter of fact, don't go off of Bourbon Street. Things get a little sketchy once you veer off from the crowds.

Was there a few years back when I was single. I thought Mardi Gras was the biggest sausage fest I have ever seen. Absolutely horrendous ratio.