Local Interest The Big Easy. NOLA. N’awlins. The Crescent City. The city that care forgot. Gateway to the Americas. No matter what you call it, New Orleans is a magical place with a unique culture and way of life. The city is a cultural gem of history and architecture, a mecca for foodies and anyone looking to delight his/her tastebuds, and the birthplace of American art of many varities, but most notably: jazz. Plan now to arrive early or stay late after the ICCFA convention is complete to explore one of the most fun and authentic cities in the United States. Over the next few pages you’ll find suggestions for day trips, short jaunts to discover local institutions, and strolls to explore several distinct neighborhoods that are “naturally N’awlins.”

AFTERNOON/DAY TRIPS

west side, while The Presbytere is on the east side. The museums house several historical galleries, as well as rotating new exhibitions. It takes more than an hour to walk through the museums. Hours: Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission: $6 for adults for each museum; buy tickets to both and receive a 20 percent discount. Enhance your experience by taking a horse-drawn carriage ride from Jackson Square around the French Quarter.

Audubon Nature Institute’s Zoo, Aquarium of the Americas and Insectarium & Butterfly Garden Duration: A full day for all three. 1-3 hours for each. If you think the zoo/aquarium/insectarium is child’s play, think again. The Audubon Institute is perenially rated as one of the premier nature organizations in the world.

Jackson Square Duration: 2-4 hours Start out by going to Café Du Monde for breakfast (or for just a taste of heaven) consisting of beignets, chickory coffee and cafe au lait. Then go across the street to Jackson Square. Walk around the perimiter to find local artists and fortune tellers at work. Along the square’s north side, St. Louis Cathedral is the tall building with steeples in the center. It is the most historic cathedral in town and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans. Two museums flank the cathedral. The Cabildo is on the

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The Aquarium of the Americas is right along the river and a short walk from our host hotel. You could start there to learn about hundreds of species of aquatic and amphibious reptiles, birds and mammals from around the world. The aquarium also features an IMAX theater, an opportunity to play with endangered African penguins, pet sharks and stingrays and participate in numerous other interactive exhibits. Just a few blocks up Canal Street is the newest Audubon Institute facility, the Insectarium & Butterfly

2016 ICCFA Annual Conference & Exposition

note: Superior Bar & Grill (Tex-Mex), Trolley Stop Cafe (American diner), Cheesecake Bistro by Copeland’s (Cajun & American) and Delmonico by Emeril (contemporary Creole/American).

Garden. The museum encourages you to use all five senses as you explore North America’s largest museum devoted to insects and their relatives. You’ll discover why insects are the building blocks of all life on our planet, wander through a mysterious Louisiana swamp and be captivated by thousands of butterflies in an Asian garden.

Historic Plantations Duration: All day or an afternoon If you have a car with you, you might like to escape to an era gone with the wind about an hour outside of New Orleans. (If you don’t have a car, you can ask your hotel concierge about plantation tours.) The largest of the old river road plantations is Oak Alley, located in Vacherie, LA, on 25 acres of an old sugar plantation.

From there, walk a block or two north to St. Charles Avenue and ride the streetcar through Uptown to Audubon Park. You’ll get to see all the great Garden District mansions along the way. You can get off the streetcar in front of Tulane and Loyola Universities. Across the street from the universities is Audubon Park. Walk through the park to the other side and you will find the Audubon Zoo. Adult tickets: $16.95 for the insectarium, $18.95 for the zoo and $23.95 for the aquarium. Discounts are available for visiting a combination of the three facilities and including the IMAX or special exhibits. Streetcar fares are $1.25 one way (exact change required when you board). Day passes begin at $3. If you get hungry during your expedition, there are numerous restaurants along St. Charles Avenue. Of Schedule and program may be subject to change.

Adult admission is $20 and includes guided tours of the main house, and self-guided tours of the historic grounds, “Slavery at Oak Alley” exhibit, Civil War encampment, blacksmith shop and 15 other exhibits and points of interest. Besides Oak Alley, there are 6-7 other plantations along the river between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. It would take you multiple days to see them all. Some that are closer to New Orleans are (in order of closest to farthest from the city): Destrehan, San Francisco, Laura, Oak Alley, Tezcuco, Houmas House (where “Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte“ was filmed) and Nottoway. A suggestion: do yourself a favor and grab a muffaletta or po-boy from Central Grocery on Decatur Street in the French Quarter and bring them with you to Oak Alley. Sit in the picnic area under a big oak tree and enjoy the enchanting scenery as you have lunch. Most plantations are open Spring through Fall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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History, Museums and City Park Duration: An afternoon You can pickup the Canal Street (red) streetcar line at the foot of Canal Street, just about a block from the Hilton Riverside Hotel. If you take the streetcar that says CITY PARK, you may tour City Park and the New Orleans Museum of Art.

The 1,300-acre City Park has enchanted New Orleanians since 1854, making it one of the nation’s oldest urban parks. Within the park are opportunities to wander through the Botanical Garden, play a round of miniature golf, stroll beneath 800-year old live oaks, ride the antique wooden carousel and much more.

lagoons, Spanish moss-laden oaks, mature pines, magnolias, camellias and pedestrian bridges. NOMA has developed a unique Arts of the Americas collection, surveying the cultural heritage of North, Central and South America from the pre-Columbian period through the Spanish Colonial era. An exhibit on American folk art will be on display during the ICCFA convention.

Taking the streetcar that says CEMETERIES, will lead you to several cemeteries, each unique from the other: • Metairie Cemetery • Greenwood Cemetery • Cypress Grove Cemetery • Odd Fellows Rest • St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1 • Hope Mausoleum • Charity Hospital Cemetery • Chevra Thilim Cemetery There’s even Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie, which features a pet cremation and bereavement center as well as a pet ossuary. If you take the Cemetery Tour on Saturday, April 16, you will be able to take a behind-the-scenes tour of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries. All of these cemeteries feature above-ground tombs and monuments that have become synonymous with New Orleans culture.

The New Orleans Museum of Art has a magnificent permanent collection of almost 40,000 art objects. The collection, noted for its extraordinary strengths in French and American art, photography, glass, and African and Japanese works, continues to grow. A fiveacre sculpture garden is one of the largest sculpture installations in the U.S., with over 60 sculptures situated on a beautifully landscaped site amongst reflecting

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The city’s official Hurricane Katrina Memorial is just north of the Charity Hospital Cemetery. In six simple, somlemn tombs lie the bodies of 83 people killed by Katrina—21 unidentified and 62 who were indentified, but unclaimed. The layout of the memorial is arranged in the shape of a hurricane. Streetcar fares are $1.25 one way (exact change required when you board). Day passes begin at $3.

2016 ICCFA Annual Conference & Exposition

Mardi Gras World

as America’s official museum about World War II, The National WWII Museum features a rich collection of artifacts that bring history to life. Discover the most impactful event of the 20th century and the legacy of the greatest generation in thought-provoking exhibits, and explore the American experience in the war that changed the world. From D-Day galleries to the 4D cinematic experience, Beyond All Boundaries, from the soaring U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, to the groundbreaking new Campaigns of Courage, this world-renowned history museum is designed to inspire visitors of all ages in the lessons of World War II and the stories of heroism, tragedy and liberation. Learn more at www.nationalww2museum.org.

Duration: A couple of hours Since 1947, Blaine Kern Studios has built the breathtaking parade floats for major parades not only for Mardi Gras, but for parades all over the world. Mardi Gras parades would be nothing without the fantastical floats that line the parade route year after year. The hard work that goes into making these spectacles is what makes Mardi Gras in New Orleans “the greatest free show on Earth.” Take an all-access Mardi Gras tour, winding through the massive studio where these magnificent floats are built from the ground up. You’ll learn about the history of this unique and festive tradition and go beyond its reputation to get a deeper understanding of the real Mardi Gras. There are plenty of opportunities for photos in front of floats, with props or wearing a traditional Mardi Gras costume.

Admission: $24-34. Discounts for seniors, students and military (active duty and veterans). The museum is located at 945 Magazine Street, a short cab ride from the host hotel.

Tours are $19.95 for adults (discounts offered for seniors, students and children) and are offered 7 days a week, with the first tour beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the last tour beginning at 4:30 p.m. Tours run every 30 minutes and last about an hour. Tours include a display of Mardi Gras costumes, a historic video and a free slice of King Cake. To get there: call 504.475.2061 for a freee shuttle pickup right outside of the Hilton Riverside Hotel.

The National World War II Museum Duration: A couple of hours

Ranked by TripAdvisor as the #1 Attraction in New Orleans, named by USA Today as the #1 Best Place to Learn U.S. Military History, and designated by Congress Schedule and program may be subject to change.

Besides all of the aforementioned activities, please note that there are also the following types of tours available if they are of interest to you: • Swamp tours • Riverboat tours • Haunted tours • French Quarter tours • Neighborhood tours • Hurricane Katrina Tours For a sampling of what’s available to you, we recommend that you visit the New Orleans tourism site at www.neworleansonline.com.

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MAGAZINE STREET

FOODIE FRENZY

For shopping, dining or just a casual stroll, no place in New Orleans is quite like Magazine Street. This sixmile-long stretch from the Garden District to Uptown features some of the best antique stores, art galleries, craft shops and boutiques to be found anywhere in the city. Specialty coffee shops on Magazine offer free wifi and outdoor tables for people-watching and casual conversation. Restaurants (from local and funky to sit-down and formal) feature cuisines ranging from traditional Creole to Vietnamese, Indian, or Columbian, and everything in between. As locals will tell you, it is the antiques, artwork and second-hand shops that draw aficionados to Magazine Street. Whether you are looking for fine China, used and new books, jewelry, ornate furniture, or other 19th and early 20th century home furnishings—you’ll find it on Magazine Street.

MUSIC MECCA New Orleans is known as the Birthplace of Jazz, but music of all forms flow from the city’s performance venues. If you can take in a show while you’re in town, it’s highly recommended. Here are a few of the legendary music halls: • Preservation Hall (726 St. Peter St., 504.522.2841)

• Commander’s Palace (1403 Washington Ave., 504.899-8221) Creole, American, French. $$$$ • Brennan’s (417 Royal St., 504.525.9711) Creole, American, French, Breakfast, Brunch. $$$ • Emeril’s New Orleans (800 Tchoupitoulas St., 504.528.9393) Contemporary Creole. $$$ • Restaurant August (301 Tchoupitoulas St., 504.299.9777) Contemporary Creole. $$$ • Broussard’s (819 Conti St., 504.581.3866) Contemporary Creole, French. $$$ • Central Grocery (923 Decatur St., 504.523.1620) Delicatessen/specialty grocery store. $

• Tipitina’s (501 Napoleon Avenue, 504.895.8477)

• Atchafalaya (901 Louisiana Ave., 504.891.9626) Creole, Southern. $$

• Mid City Rock N’ Bowl (3016 S. Carrollton Ave., 504.861.1700)

• Casamento’s (4330 Magazine St., 504.895.9761) Seafood, Creole. $$

• House of Blues (225 Decatur St., 504.310.4999) • Spotted Cat Music Club (623 Frenchmen St., 504.258-3135) • Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (626 Frenchmen St., 504.949.0696)

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New Orleans is an epicenter of the culinary world, and the capital of Creole and Cajun cuisine. There are thousands of restaurants in the city, many of them offering a plethora of tastes to delight your pallete. While ther are too numerous to list here, below are a few triedand-true culinary institutions you cannot go wrong with:

• Drago’s (inside the Hilton Riverside Hotel, 504.584.3911) Seafood. $$$ • Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse (716 Iberville St., 504.522.2467) Steak, seafood. $$$

2016 ICCFA Annual Conference & Exposition