New Orleans Travel Guide
Tags: Twilight Hotels / Hotel Cocktails / W Hotels / New Orleans Hotels / Hotel Bars / → All Tags
Attention Tweens Over 21: Celebrate Twilight's 'New Moon' at Whiskey Blue Nola
Do you love, like really love "Twilight"? Have you read all the books front to back, twice? Are you holding countdown parties to the "New Moon" movie at your house? Would you turn immortal forever for Edward Cullen? And more importantly, are you over the age of 21?
Because that's how old you will need to be to attend the New Moon mania that's going on at Whiskey Blue New Orleans inside the W Hotel. All week long the trendy hotel bar will unabashedly embrace the "Twilight" craze and it's not entirely about Edward, Bella, and Jacob. There is an actual new moon happening on November 16th.
Tags: Halloween Hotels / Halloween Cocktails / Hotel Cocktails / New Orleans Hotels / → All Tags
The W New Orleans is Now Serving Witches Brew
We were quite sad when summer ended, for all the obvious reasons, but also because we missed featuring Summer Cocktails that were being mixed, shaken, stirred and poured in hotels around the world. Plus, we even got our hands on the recipes for these drinks allowing us to make some crazy concoctions at home.
While Starbucks might be serving pumpkin spice lattes, we think it's a little too early to start up our Holiday Cocktails coverage. But Halloween is just around the corner and we know of a few hotels that are choosing to celebrate our favorite holiday with a special drink, like The W New Orleans.
The Witches Brew is being served in the hotel's Whiskey Blue bar and the Living Room for $35. It's made with bacardi light, Meyers Rum, Bacardi 151, pineapple juice, orange juice, sour mix and grenadine and it's garnished with gummi worms and silly straws. We love it.
The full recipe is after the jump.
Tags: Deal or No Deal / New Orleans Hotels / Priceline / Renaissance Hotels / → All Tags
A Not So Jazzy Deal: Marriott and Harrah's New Orleans Casino Getaway
The Renaissance Arts Hotel in New Orleans is offering what their breathless press release describes as "the ultimate casino getaway." Using a promotional booking code available on the Marriott site, you can book a room Thursdays through Sundays from now until August 21, 2010.
The deal, such as it is, includes a $10 Harrah's Casino voucher (two whole antes!), $15 a night parking (discounted!), and "rates from $89-$339 per room, per night." We think you can tell from our tone that this isn't going to go well.
Tags: Hotel Deals / HotelChatter Reader Deals / Ritz-Carlton Hotels / New Orleans Hotels / → All Tags
20 Things Under $20 Every Day At The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans
Normally we have Ritz Carltons down as splurgy kinds of places rather than savers, so it’s nice to know that the New Orleans branch is reaching out to our budget hearts with its new 20 Under $20 list – 20 things you can get under their roof every day for under $20, plus a free bonus thrown in for good measure.
You won’t be finding any rooms on the list, unfortunately, but as well as the obvious stuff like a postcard (a slightly overpriced $1) or a cup of coffee (a much more reasonable $2) you will see things from sushi ($3), Jazzed Up Grits ($6), a Bloody Mary ($8), Bananas Foster ($10) and kobe beef sliders ($16).
The “free” part is Jeremy Davenport’s live jazz, which you can either catch on weekend nights or Thursday evenings from 5.30pm till 9pm. If you make this one, you’ll get a free Davenportini cocktail to boot (as you might have guessed, Mr Davenport is something of a Nola celebrity and beloved of the local ladies). Although you might have trouble getting served – the place is rammed when he plays.
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Honor the Brave Ladies Who 'Stormed' The Sazerac at The Roosevelt New Orleans
Taken during the very first "stormin'" in 1949.
Some people go for Civil War re-enactments, some people prefer Jane Austen movies, but when it comes to historical fixes, we prefer the vintage booze that are making a comeback at hipster-frequented speakeasies across the country. That’s why we want to tell you about the upcoming “Stormin’ the Sazerac” event at the landmark Roosevelt New Orleans on Friday, September 25.
Back in the day, women were only admitted to the Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt on one day of the year: Mardi Gras (remember, this is New Orleans). Well, 60 years ago, a group of well-to-do New Orleans ladies decided they wanted a drink, and on September 25, 1949, they stormed the bar and demanded to drink. Their gambit paid off, and ever since, women have been admitted on the same basis as men.
Tags: Hotel Openings / Waldorf-Astoria Collection / New Orleans Hotels / → All Tags
The Roosevelt New Orleans Open and Swinging
The Big Easy never really lost its swing, but it has had to significantly rebuild both literally and emotionally post-Hurricane Katrina. Nothing brings a commercial boost like an influx of out-of-towners, especially those willing to roll large and invest in a taste of The Waldorf-Astoria's opulence.
The Roosevelt New Orleans—known as The Grunewald and The Fairmont in its earlier incarnations—recently underwent a whopping $145 million restoration, making it central to the city's rebirth. Located in the French Quarter, guests really can't get any closer to the core of life in New Orleans.
Reviews are generally positive across the board, but, honestly, it's hard to imagine such a massive project backed by a name like Waldorf-Astoria falling into the "sub-par" ratings range. Praise for it's "regal" ambiance and a staff that "[epitomizes] the spirit of New Orleans charm" are common on TripAdvisor, though many of the same reviewers agree that there are still a few minor kinks to work out in terms of service, with housekeeping and check-in being noted areas of concern.
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Jonas Bros (Probably) Hit Up The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans With Us This Weekend
When we turned our road trip towards New Orleans this weekend, we were looking forward to scenes of drinking in the hotel corridors and fornication in the lifts (last time we went, we stayed at the Holiday Inn, see).
But this time we were hitting up the Ritz-Carlton, and were confronted by a crew of wildly excited, under 13-year-olds wearing identical Jonas Brothers-themed uniforms. Turns out, we decided to hit town the same night as the JoBros, who were playing on Saturday. Not only were they in town, but their tour bus had just been spotted outside the hotel, making the kiddies think they must be shacked up here.
Tags: Hot Deals / New Orleans Hotels / W Hotels / → All Tags
Hot Deals for the Dog Days of Summer
The dog days of summer are here, meaning everyone you know is on vacation, leaving you itching for some escapism, too. Where can you go on short notice and still get a good deal? Our vote is for New Orleans.
Sure, it’s hot and daily forecasts mention a chance of thunderstorms. But, hell, other cities are receiving similar weather reports, and New Orleans has a lot going for it: all that delicious food to sample, solid live music around every corner, and, right now, some fantastic hotel deals.
Tags: Hotel Parties / W Hotels / New Orleans Hotels / Fashion Hotels / → All Tags
Hotels For Watching 'Project Runway': W New Orleans
If we had a list of hotels for where to catch the preview of the next, and most debated, season of Project Runway, the W New Orleans would be at the top of it.
On August 20 in their Whiskey Blue bar, the W will screen the season premiere of Project Runway from 7 to 10pm and offer those who come out for the event a fashion of their own. Actually, fashion shows as part of this "Project A-list" series will be held to coincide with the airings of Project Runway on August 20, September 17 and October 22. But forget that; everyone knows we're in it for the free stuff and drink specials.
As for that free stuff: the first 50 people to show up to Whiskey Blue for the screening will receive swag bags. In addition, there will be $5 drink specials, like on the Finlandia Tangerine. And it's not all money in the W's pocket either; a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Metripolitan Center for Women and Children, providing services to survivors of domestic violence and assault.
Somewhere where we can dish about fashion and not simply drink out money away? Count us in .
[Photo: W New Orleans]
Tags: Refereeing Hotel Reviews / Checking In On / Hotel Openings / → All Tags
The Roosevelt New Orleans Gets Its First Reviews
The Roosevelt New Orleans re-opened this month, with a brand new Waldorf-Astoria Collection flag, newly-renovated rooms, and a pretty hefty and impressive history — but is all the hype and hooplah worth it? How are guests feeling about the place?
Natch, we checked in on the property at TripAdvisor — and, sadly, there are only two reviews of the iconic hotel that have come in so far.
Still, reviews are...good, if not bland. As usual, there are some service glitches to work out. One guest who called the hotel "beautiful, beautiful, beautiful" also said this:
I waited an hour for breakfast and it was alright,waited a bit for valet parking to bring my car but there was a lot of construction in the area. Overall you will not be disappointed with this hotel-I would most certainly go back
Another guest added this (and, um, sic):
The shower was the best thing during my stay multple jets and sit down. The king bed very comfortable, very small rooms but in new orleans your not suppose to be in them..... the restaurants and bars service was excellent when you received it. I walked out once out of the bar after waiting 15 min for service and walked out at the restuartant once waiting on service after 10 mintues.... food is expensive but good.
Rates are still sitting under $200, and the famed Blue Room lounge should be open by the end of July.
[Photo: Judi Bottoni, AP via USA Today]
Tags: Summer Cocktails / Hotel Cocktails / New Orleans Hotels / Hotel Bars / Loews Hotels / → All Tags
The Red-Headed Stepchild at The Loews New Orleans
We've kicked off our Summer Cocktails series where we profile fun new summer drinks that hotels are making. Got one we should know about? Send us the recipe with a photo of the drink. Otherwise, enjoy and @reply us when you're wasted!
We heart the Big Easy. Big time. Rock ‘n’ Bowl at Mid City Lanes, music at Donna’s Bar and Grill and famous drinking establishments with storied pasts make us swoon, but it’s the unforgettable meals we’ve had that makes New Orleans one of our all-time favorite dining destinations.
Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of dining at the Bar Chef Table at Café Adelaide & The Swizzle Stick Bar in Loews New Orleans Hotel with the grande dames of the Big Easy – cousins and co-authors, Ti Adelaide Martin and Lally Brennan.
To say it was a mere meal would be a huge understatement – it was a multi-hour, paired cocktail and culinary adventure woven with colorful stories and true Southern hospitality. Reigning over our escapades was Bar Chef Lu Brow and Executive Chef Chris Lusk, a creative tag team of taste that will make your mouth very, very happy.
Tags: Summer Cocktails / Hotel Cocktails / Hotel Bars / W Hotels / New Orleans Hotels / → All Tags
Try an Amazon Cooler at The W New Orleans
We've kicked off our Summer Cocktails series where we profile fun new summer drinks that hotels are making. Got one we should know about? Send us the recipe with a photo of the drink. Otherwise, enjoy and @reply us when you're wasted!
The next in our refreshing Summer Cocktails series comes from The W New Orleans, a hotel that is well-versed in seeking creative options to cool down in the hot Southern sun. Check out their rooftop pool.
The W's Whiskey Blue lounge has now put together the Amazon Cooler, a light drink that's perfect way to cap off a sweltering down of sightseeing. Or you know, just to get started on your wild night out on Bourbon Street.
The recipe is after the jump.
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