Before You Go

For those who want to get to know New Orleans a bit before visiting, we have some suggestions for you:

• Buy or browse Unfathomable City by Rebecca Solnit. It’s a beautiful book that explores different facets of New Orleans through “maps.”
  • Bonus: Solnit also has a similar book called Infinite City, which is focused on San Francisco, another favorite city of ours. Check it out!
• Watch a few episodes of Post-Katrina, New Orleans-based Treme by David Simon (creator of the HBO TV series the The Wire). 
  • Bonus: Find and watch the PBS series Faubourg Treme by Lollis Elle. It provides an excellent account of one of the most important jazz neighborhoods in America.
• Watch episodes “Gumbo” and “The Gift” from the Ken Burns Jazz series.
  • Bonus: Watch the entire series!
• Get into the mood by listening to some music from the Rebirth Brass Brand or the Hot 8 Brass Band.
  • Bonus: Read the story of Preservation Hall.
• Whet your appetite by perusing some of these New Orleans cookbooks.
  • Bonus: Try your hand at a few recipes. Mmm, jambalaya!