The Louisiana Music Factory, which specializes in regional southern music, has a wide selection of all kinds of music. The music factory is particularly well-known for its selection of local music like Cajun and zydeco. Come check out the largest collection of New Orleans music in the world during their annual Jazz Festival.
Located in the heart of the French Quarter, Cigar Factory is a cigar-lover's dream. Here, you can watch master cigarmakers at work. Among the specialty styles made here are the Plantation Reserve, Tres Hermanos and Vieux Carre. There are tables along the wall so you can sit and smoke or just watch the masters do their work. This is also the only cigar factory in New Orleans, boasting 100% hand-rolled cigars. Cigarmakers are available for special events.
W.I.N.O., also known as the Wine Institute of New Orleans, offers patrons the opportunity to develop their palates and savor each sip. Classes like "Intro to Wine," "Treasures of the Loire Valley," and "Food and Wine Pairing" provide educational opportunities for wine lovers at every skill level. A state-of-the-art wine serving system behind the bar allows W.I.N.O. to serve samples by the ounce, half glass, or full glass from 80 different bottles at various price levels. Between sips, check out W.I.N.O.'s full wine and liquor store. With more than 300 labels in stock, you're sure to find a bottle to take home.
In the heart of the French Quarter, this voodoo shop doubles as a shrine to the famous Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau of New Orleans. Psychic readings, voodoo dolls, statues and altars are the real thing, not found in other touristy spots. Whether you come to the Big Easy for business or pleasure, you can find an original souvenir and even learn a little something of the black arts from around the world at Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo.
Armed with inspiration from old-world meat markets, Chef Donald Link and partners Stephen Stryjewski and Warren Stephen opened Cochon Butcher in the Warehouse District. This casual eatery offers diners a menu of sandwiches concocted from combinations of freshly butchered and house-made meats. Specialties include the Cochon Muffaletta made from house-made meats, provolone cheese, pickled peppers, and olives, as well as The Gambino piled high with salami cotto, coppa, sporessata and fresh herb vinaigrette. Patrons can also select small plates from the restaurant's bar food menu. Small plate options include Truffled Mac 'n' Cheese, Duck Sliders, and Marinated Brussels Sprouts.
Willie Mae Seaton inspires and satisfies hungry customers with her famous fried chicken that she has been serving in her neighborhood restaurant for decades. With the assistance of her great-granddaughter, Kerry Seaton-Blackmon, Willie Mae's Scotch House continues to serve up homemade southern food like pork chops and red beans (alongside the restaurant's famous fried chicken) to customers looking for an award-winning lunch. Go to Willie Mae's Scotch House for a plate of unforgettable fried chicken, but don't expect to leave with the recipe — Willie Mae closely guards the famous formula that has kept customers coming back for years.
This New Orleans institution has such a wide-reaching reputation that even President Obama has sampled its offerings. Come here to get your hands around a poor boy (or po'boy) sandwich, a Louisiana traditional submarine sandwich. The sandwiches come in all varieties, from barbecued beef and charbroiled hamburger to grilled shrimp and oven-cooked turkey. Whatever you try, it's sure to be uniquely delicious.
Bayou Hot Wings offers up a local twist on a casual fast food favorite. Nine specialty sauces on the menu include delicious choices, like Bayou Sweet Heat made with Crystal Hot Sauce, Garlic Butter Parmesan, and Steen's Cane Honey BBQ. With so many choices, it's easy to see why it is difficult for wing fans to decide on which way to order their wings. If wings aren't your thing, don't miss the locally sourced Gator Bites, Fried Frog Legs, and Fried Shrimp. In addition to the meats that dominate the menu, Bayou Hot Wings also serves salads and down-home sides like Homemade Tater Salad, Bayou Fried Pickles, and Sweet Pot Fries. - Bethany Culp