One's even from the 18th century.

My favorite- Laffite's

ETA: Photo

There are non-decadent air conditioned amusements, Betsy. Off the top of my head, the Aquarium of the Americas, the Museum of Art, the Cabildo (I think, I haven't been there in a while). I know where a great quilting store is, and a yarn shop. Parts of the French Market are enclosed and air conditioned. There are more museums than I can list, actually. The zoo, however, is pretty much outdoors. It does make a nice package with the aquarium, though, in that you can ride a riverboat in between the two attractions.

Believe me, as we compile potential side trips we will keep your desires in mind.

My way is not Matt's way. Not with all the fabulous food, funky shopping and, hell, everything there is to do. I'll be maximizing daytime as well as nighttime hours.

Oh, don't think for a minute that I won't be waking up to eat during daylight hours. I may be adding Second Breakfast and Elevenses to take advantage of the location.

One of the great joys of the city is going down to the french market at sunrise to buy fresh strawberries from the produce vendors so you can eat them while reading a used paperback you bought from another vendor along the riverbank.

Note to self: buy elastic waist pants before May 2005.

I'm so excited about NO being chosen. I have NOT A CLUE if I can make it, but just the idea that if I wanted to, I could hop on a plane and hang out with the coolest kids around in such a fantastic city. Yippeeeee!

Now, someone just find me the cash.

Matt - I can send you some maternity pants. God willing I won't be wearing them in May.

Thanks, -t. I'm very excited about this.

It's a gorgeous city. I was there a few years ago during Mardi Gras and am looking forward to seeing it again when it's not overrun with drunken parties. I'm planning to come out for a full week so I plan to see some of the graveyards and really check out the French Quarter and just enjoy.

Ooh, riverboat ride between the zoo and the aquarium! That's sounds lovely.

On the water will definitely be cooler.

I wonder if they do cemetary tours at night? That might be fun -- isn't NO all crypts and sarcophaguses due to the low elevation?

Betsy, there's an excellent zoo in New Orleans. It's right on the St. Charles Streetcar line, which means you get to trundle past the mansions in the Garden District to get there.

You'd probably also enjoy taking a plantation tour. There are several with different slants.

I'll just note again - we were in New Orleans on our honeymoon and took a sidetrip to DC for the F2F this year. DC was much hotter and less comfortable than New Orleans was.

1. Accept that NO is the city, it was chosen.

I passionately support this. We bullshit-consensed that we'd do a non-ranked vote, then we voted. Time to go with it.

Completely agree with this.

In fact, I didn't vote. My Boston wishful thinking was the reason I didn't vote at all. It's really difficult for me to travel during the school year, without disrupting many, many lives. I always figure that some year, there'll happen to be a F2F when I can travel, in a place I can get to. I would love to do N.O. Sorry for contributing to the mellow harshing.