[cdcro]

You guys were such great help with last years valentines day vacation here. This Year we are going to New Orleans and I need your advice on footwear. Without wearing tennis shoes, what would my best bet be for walking during the day. My Alden barrie last NST's are my most comfortable shoe so I thought Alden chucca's on the barrie last from AOC might suit the need. Advise, suggestions?

 

[charlie500]

I can't suggest a particular shoe, but wear something comfortable. Parking is tough in the French Quarter and you end up doing a lot of walking. New Orleans tends to get kind of wet too so you might want to rethink suede.

Check out Bywater barbecue while your down there. Good food, no lines and not too expensive.

https://www.frommers.com/destinations/neworleans/D63759.html

CCs has great coffee, Rue de la Course on Magazine is an uptown cafe in where a lot of locals hang out.

DBA on Frenchman is a cool little bar with a huge beer selection and has great local bands. (Frenchman is just outside the quarter - facing cafe du monde take a left until you come to a fire station.) There are a lot of cool jazz clubs on Frenchman as well.

One eyed jacks on Toulouse has a kind of secret upstairs called the matador room where celebrities sometimes hang out.

If someone bets you they can tell you where you got your shoes, well.... I'll let you figure that one out for yourself.

 

[cdcro]

I can't suggest a particular shoe, but wear something comfortable. Parking is tough in the French Quarter and you end up doing a lot of walking. New Orleans tends to get kind of wet too so you might want to rethink suede.

Check out Bywater barbecue while your down there. Good food, no lines and not too expensive.

https://www.frommers.com/destinations/neworleans/D63759.html

CCs has great coffee, Rue de la Course on Magazine is an uptown cafe in where a lot of locals hang out.

DBA on Frenchman is a cool little bar with a huge beer selection and has great local bands. (Frenchman is just outside the quarter - facing cafe du monde take a left until you come to a fire station.) There are a lot of cool jazz clubs on Frenchman as well.

One eyed jacks on Toulouse has a kind of secret upstairs called the matador room where celebrities sometimes hang out.

If someone bets you they can tell you where you got your shoes, well.... I'll let you figure that one out for yourself.

Thanks for the suggestions. We're not planning of driving due to the proximity of Mardi Gras, and we're staying at the Ritz on Canal so we're centrally located.

 

[texquire]

I can walk all day in a well made pair of dress shoes, so it's not a question of comfort. I've worn everything from C&J boots to AE to Lucchese ropers throughout New Orleans. Here's my advice:

1. Prepare for water. New Orleans can get wet, and even on the sunniest of days, there's standing water on numerous sidewalks and alleys.

2. Prepare for scuffing. New Orleans has an older infrastructure, and so its roads, sidewalks, and curbs reflect a less ADA friendly time. Walk long enough there, with enough Pimms in you, and you're going to kick a curb or stumble on a cracked path. It can be crowded too, so wear something you that you won't mind if someone steps on.

3. No new soles. Lots of uneven concrete, and you don't want to slip and break your wrist.

If it were me, I'd go with a nice leather boot like a chelsea or monk boot, with a leather or rubber sole. They're versatile enough for casual wear or dress slacks, hardy yet comfortable, provide alot of protection from the elements, and take a shining well when you get home. The only downside is that boots are heavy to pack. You can wear them on the plane I suppose.

This isn't unique to New Orleans, but my general policy is that travel is hell on clothing and shoes. The packing, stuffing, TSA, unpacking, hanging, repeated wears, increased outdoor exposure, increased walking, and increased physical activity mean that I don't bring ANYTHING on trips that I don't mind destroying, losing at the airport, or being relieved of by a mugger. That means the nicest watches, shoes, clothes, etc. stay home. You don't have to look like a slob, but your favorites should probably take a break and yield to your second tier selection.

 

[cdcro]

... I don't bring ANYTHING on trips that I don't mind destroying, losing at the airport, or being relieved of by a mugger. That means the nicest watches, shoes, clothes, etc. stay home. You don't have to look like a slob, but your favorites should probably take a break and yield to your second tier selection.

Thats my thinking, my aldens are the second most comfortable shoes I own next to handmade western boots. Boots would be silly, and I don't want to thrash some shell down there so I thought the chukkas would be a good bet, especially with AOC'c commando sole. I think i'll order them and try them out. I've got #8 Indys on order, but they won't be in on time. I love justifying new shoes. :aportnoy:

 

[agnash]

Local advice

I live in New Orleans, and my office is only a few blocks from your hotel. I am not sure of the exact date of your visit, although you did mention Valentines. It probably will not be too wet in February, but Mardi Gras will be in full swing. Carnival Season begins every year on January 6th, and Valentines is the weekend before the really big Mardi Gras weekend.

The streets in the French Quarter can get really nasty during Carnival season, so you might want to be prepared to wear shoes that can stand up to a serious cleaning, or can be thrown away. The fact that Valentines is on a Saturday means that a lot of the restaurants are going to fill up quickly, so call ahead for reservations if you have some place special you want to go.

If you are looking for a couple of ideas for romantic dinners or visits, send me a PM.

 

[clemsontiger]

Duck boots would be most appropriate for bourbon street.

 

[cdcro]

Duck boots would be most appropriate for bourbon street.

or my hip waders from orvis!

 

[Tonyp]

I agree with you about the commando sole. I saw the alden chuck in brown with the commando sole on the Plaza last for AoC. That is a great walking shoe/boot. I would be very concerned though about what the poster from NO said about the nasty conditions and being ready to throw away my shoes.

 

[NinthCircle]

Shoes for NOLA

I'm going to be in New Orleans for V-day, too. I'm definitely taking shoes that look okay but that I wouldn't mind discarding after the trip: a pair of black oxfords from Mervyn's.

 

[Steve Smith]

Good lord.

There will be crowds. If you are worried about scuffs, don't wear your new shells.

1 minute of research tells you Feb isn't the rainy season.

Wear your comfortable shoes, just like you would if you were going to any other city in the world and walking around.

And, best of all, there is nothing horrendous that will happen to your shoes in New Orleans that will force you to discard them.

I have been to New Orleans dozens of times, and at different times of the year.

 

[Cary Grant]

Wear something you don't mind getting dirty. I'd probably veto leather soles given the various cobbles, pavement old and new and frequent damp I've worn leather soles on bourbon street before... it's a slip waiting to happen.

 

[Grenadier]

I second the advice on boots.

While not strictly elegant in any sense, a pair of Doc Martens would be the perfect pair of shoes for the occasion. First, they're comfortable. Second, they have rubber soles with a great grip. And, lastly, they are made of thick leather, and can be had in steel toe versions, which will come in handy when your foot gets stomped on by a horse or tourist.

For dinner, I highly recommend Jacques Imo's on Oak Street or Kpaul's in the Quarter.