Jesse I just noticed you asked on the Google sheet about having CP lunch after the cemetery tour. There is a bit of discussion up thread about why that's not really feasible (CP seating times and dress code). I couldn't figure out a way to answer your question on the sheet so brought my answer here.

My tentative plan: dinner/drinks at Avenue Friday night. Meander and explore Saturday, get back to hotel and ready for Smonster's party.

Sunday lunch with you all (I hope but maybe not) and maybe some Saints game watching and probably the WW2 museum or something. I am open for dinner with y'all.

Monday cemetery tour and then whatever. Dinner with people. It doesn't need to be CP but I'd feel silly going to NOLA and not having at least one classic meal. I'm good with branching off with folks who do want to do CP dinner.

Haven't decided if I am going to bother with a car. How is Nola for cabs?

ETA: I can't believe I neglected to mention the most important thing to me besides seeing you guys - MUSIC. I will be seeing music. Lots of music. Frenchman street at least.

Classic meals at places open on Mondays: Bayona, Cochon, Emeril's, Herbsaint, Tujague's

Other awesomeness open on Mondays: Meauxbar, Peche, Shaya, SoBou, Sylvain

I highly recommend all the above, although I have only had a special wine dinner at Tujague's, and not the regular menu. I don't go to Cochon (proper - I go to the neighboring Butcher all the time, which I'd recommend as a lunch place for any day) for Cajun food because I don't think it's as good as actual Cajun food in Cajun country. It's pretty good though, for being in the city.

Let me know if you all end up at Bayona or Herbsaint, I haven't been to either of those for ages. Bayona is Susan Spicer's restaurant and Herbsaint is Donald Link's first place.

New Orleans is... ok for cabs. It isn't a busy weekend with big events so you should be OK. Uber just started up, but I don't know how it is, I don't use Uber. Driving around the city is a serious pain in the ass these days with road works uptown and at Rampart and Canal.

Music: Frenchmen Street, Tipitina's, Bacchanal. Maybe stuff on St. Claude if something specific looks fun. (I get nervous recommending wandering St. Claude).

Check out Offbeat Magazine's listings: [link]

Looks like Glen David Andrews is playing Three Muses on Friday... DJ Soul Sister's birthday at Tip's on Friday with KON and Hot 8 Brass Band...

Saturday... Kermit Ruffins at Little Gem, Glenn David Andrews at Richard Fiske's, and a bunch of other stuff of course.

I'm drooling over SoBou, Sylvain, Shaya, Tujaguel, in tht order. I

CP for lunch, I think, undy for me.

I'm excited to the ultimte!

Nora, Hot 8 Braas on Sunday night is on my list! Wheeeee.

Nanita, The Hot 8 Brass Band played at the conference I was at the last time I was in New Orleans. They were great!

A friend of mine from college is the banjo player for the Panorama Jazz Band, and they have a standing gig at 6PM at the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen every Saturday night. I got to reunite with him after, I don't know, fifteen years? last time I was in NOLA, and it was really nice to see him. It would be great to see him again. I messaged him on FB, but haven't heard back, but a couple of weeks out is a lot of advanced planning for him.

I'll see smonster this Sunday in NC. I'm sure we'll discuss things some when we're together. But my tentative plan is: arrive Friday, go to Ave. Pub, and drinks after, party at smonster's Saturday night, and the rest I'm open to whatever plan solidify.

Thanks to brain fog and typos, I thought Strix just proudly proclaimed that she'd be wearing undies to Commanders Palace, and Nanita followed up with an enthusiastic preference for Hot 8 bras on Sunday night.

Ha!

That's what I get for posting on the iPhone!

amyth, yeah my friend Mary saw them (on Frenchman) when she was last in Nola and raved. I am so excited!

There seems to be a contingent of folks who want to try CP but only for lunch. And that doesn't work for Monday because of the cemetery tour. Is there a reason not to have lunch there on Sunday? Otherwise, looks like me and amyth on Monday for dinner there, which I am totally fine with but it would be special to be able to share the experience with more folks.

If cost is an issue please don't let it be. My job has been incredibly difficult this year, but I am compensated well. So let the job be worthwhile because it lets me dine with favorite people in fancy restaurants in cool towns. I can cover as needed. Don't let lack of cash stop you from laughing at me mispronouncing everything on the menu.