About The Storm Aftermath.
New Orleans is sill one of the most beautiful city in world and now there is more to see - the aftermath. What you saw on TV was such a small part of the hurricane story. The good news is the French Quarter and most of the other tourist attractions were not touched by the flooding. Tour operators are now giving disaster tours.

 

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An Insiders Survival Guide to the Jazz Fest
Past Jazz Festivals have been like Mardi Gras. Post Katrina festivals are now just as big as before. The Jazz Fest is big business for NOLA and the locals are proud of it

BUT - WATCH OUT - there are hundreds of thugs roaming the city killing people. The killings are no longer gang versus gang violence. The politicians have been useless with this issue. Musicians and artists are now targets as well as anyone at anytime. Recently over 1000 New Orleanians staged a "Stop The Murders" protest march.

The French Quarter is still the somewhat safe - but on any night in the city you can hear gunfire. One some days there are more murders of Americans in New Orleans then there are in Iraq. Come visit but watch out. We certainly need the money.

One year, Daniel Breaux, a big fan of the Fest, was murdered walking to his car after a festival day. More about Daniel can be found HERE. Be careful and don't expect the police to protect you 24/7.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is the biggest festival in Louisiana. Many people plan their life around this festival. The festival is held at the New Orleans Fair Grounds, a huge horse racing facility. There are many ways to experience this monster - with all the stages, all the food, all the crafts, all the people - what do you do?

Here are some of the ways people do the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival:

Roam - Many locals do this one. With no agenda, you can just roam around the fair grounds letting your your ears, eyes, and nose guide you. This way you will experience things you didn't plan, things that will be a delight and very enjoyable, but you will definitely not see the big name acts, like Bob Dylan, the Nevilles, etc.

Stake Your Claim - Be at the gate when the Fest opens and run with your gear to the stage you want to plant your body for the rest of the day. Want to see Jimmy Buffet up close - this is probably the only way to do this.

Base Camp - If you are with a group, find an easy place to get to and set up a base camp. Sometimes this base camp may be a simple throw rug with a backpack. Don't put any thing good in the backback and if you want no one to touch it, put a dirty looking diaper on it. Families often use this method to keep track of sunscreen, sunglasses, etc..

KATRINA UPDATE = Because there are still disaster recovery workers around town, hotel rooms may be a little hard to find. Also, because the storm hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast - those hotel rooms are hard to get also. For hotel room info CLICK HERE.

Jazz Fest is a fun festival that requires walking - wear comfortable walking shoes with lots of cushioning. It the fair grounds have been soaked by a thunder storm be prepared for sloppy mud.

Wearing expensive jewelry to Jazz Fest is dumb, dumb, dumb. Leave it in the hotel room. If you are driving - park correctly. New Orleans has a huge department of tow truck drivers who enjoy their job. Values left in cars sometimes don't survive. You've heard of the truffle pig. In New Orleans there are pit bull dogs that can smell Rolexes from fifty feet. Do not leave valuables in parked cars.

A few years ago a local man was shot by some young teenage gang members as he was walking to his car one festival evening. They ask him for money and then shot him down. Be careful walking to and from the festival grounds. Stay with the crowds if possible.

In the summer, air conditioning is often too cold for tourists. Bring a sweater if you are the type of person that gets chilly easily. Wear fabrics like cotton that breath. Many locals treat Jazz Fest like Mardi Gras and wear some type of costume. Find your inner self. If you have a good body, show it off, if not - be considerate of others.

If rain is a possibility bring a lightweight poncho type raincoat. Lots of shops in the city sell these for those who forget to bring one.

Restroom facilities are basically port-a-pottys that are spread throughout the fair grounds. There are some fancy port-a-pottys on the fair grounds and some times there is an attendant with these that should be tipped. It is worth it. There are also some real toilets in the fair grounds enclosed building. Here is a real tip - if you see a port-a-potty that is marked "out of order" it usually is not - the sign is just placed there by someone who wants there own private toilet for Jazz Fest.

Cold drinking water can be found in the Grandstand (the large glass enclosed building). The Grandstand is also air conditionined and this is the place where the performers are interviewed before an audience.

If you get drunk and obnoxious then you will find your self out of the festival. The New Orleans police are in charge of the security for the festival and they have no tolerance for disruptive behavior. You can get partially nude, you can casually smoke dope on the side, but if you get in someone's face and a "scene" is made - watch out. You are removed from the party and you are in a holding tank within minutes. The philosophy of crowd control for the police department is the nip the trouble in the bud. And when they nip it, it is done with great speed and with great force. The New Orleans police do a world class job at controling crowds and residents sing them praises for their deeds. The drinking age in New Orleans is 21.

There may be pickpockets (thieves) that work the Jazz Fest grounds. Put your wallet, your ID, and things in a safe area on your body. If you bring a back pack, don't but your wallet in it. Perhaps you may want to keep money and I.D. stuff in different pockets.

Credit cards can be used with many vendors at Jazz Fest - but it is best to bring cash and there are ATMs onsite.

If you are with a group, plan on getting separated and have a contingency plan when you do. Find a landmark and use it as a meeting place. Many people meet at the flag pole that is in the center of the festival.

The local newspapers and magazines publish festival maps and festival guides - some are free. So on your first day in the city - look for these at newstands and coffehouses.

Pre-moistened "wipes" (diaper wipes work fine) will be a worth their weight in gold if you are a clean freak.

Baby strollers are allowed, but not ice chests.

The two common problems after Jazz Fest are hangovers and sunburn. Bring sunscreen and wear it, even it is cloudy.

Summary of what to bring:

For More Info:

Off Beat Magazine Covers NOLA's music beat. They have great writers and they know the music. If you like New Orleans music - subscribe to this zine and read every page! If you are traveling into the city - get one of these at most music stores and coffee houses- it is FREE.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - The biggest festival in Louisiana.  They let me exhibit my work sometimes.  Many people plan their life around this festival.  Last year I heard Pete Fountain and was blown away - there's a reason he is a jazz cliche.  Pete is a colorful character and very well liked in the community.  He should be more appreciated for his music.  He is one person that I would have liked to be good friends with.

Bobby Lounge - Bobby enjoys writing songs about the south and about people with robust lifestyles. He chooses to avoid the limelight when not performing on stage.

Louisiana State Museum Jazz Collection has photographs, audio recordings and musical instruments from the collections of the Louisiana State Museum. Primarily dealing with traditional New Orleans jazz, the collections focus on photographs (including all of the Museum's images of Louis Armstrong) and audio recordings of musicians and bands that were primarily active in New Orleans, although many toured throughout the country and the world. The musical instruments span the makeup of a traditional New Orleans jazz band and include many examples from well-known musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Warren "Baby" Dodds, Bix Beiderbecke and others.

Tom Morgan's Jazz and Blues- a great site from a writer and radio producer (WWOZ-FM New Orleans)

Louisiana Music Factory is in New Orleans at 210 Decatur Street (across from House of Blues) in the French Quarter.