Tip #1
What to do during the day?
During the day it’s going to be quite hot in New Orleans so make sure you are dressed comfortably because you will be doing a lot of walking. Ladies, if you are determined to wear heels, I would definitely go with wedges. Don’t forget to make your way to the Convention Center this weekend, even if it’s for an hour or two. Some of my most memorable moments came from the jokes told by comedian Steve Harvey and panel discussions held by the Essence staff. Local vendors will also be in attendance selling their merchandise in the same area. This is FREE!
Tip #2
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| Left: Gospel duo Mary Mary performing at the Convention Center Right: A meet and greet with author Zane |
Tip #2
Eat, eat and eat some more
There is nothing like the food in New Orleans…my mouth watered at just the thought of it. The mixture of French, Creole and Cajun is manifested not only within their culture but the cuisine as well. Make sure to have some staples like jambalaya, crawfish e’touffee, Po-boys, blackened gator , chargrilled oysters, pralines and of course beignets. Most of the restaurants are in the French Quarter or on Bourbon Street and they should be within walking distance if your hotel is downtown.
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| Top Left: Fried catfish and jambalaya Top Right: Red Snapper and e'touffee at Oliver's Bottom Left: Chargrilled Oysters Bottom Right: Shrimp Po-Boy with cheese |
Acme Oyster House: Chargrilled Oysters
Cafe Du Monde: Beignets
Tip #3
Explore the city
Although, you are there for the music festival try to squeeze in some time to explore the city. The first time I made a trip to the Big Easy for EMF, my girls and I rented a car. We took a quick trip to the Ninth Ward to see the effects of Hurricane Katrina. During my last trip, I took a cooking class at New Orleans School of Cooking, walked around Jackson Square and took some pictures at Saint Louis Cathedral. You should also walk through the French Market; here you are able to do a little shopping, enjoy some jazz bands and see some local artwork. If you are a bit adventurous, you may want to try a day trip to the Bayou. I wanted to see some live alligators and experience the swamp life but because it was raining so hard, my day trip was canceled.
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| Local artwork and jazz band at the French Market |
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| In the center of Jackson Sqaure |
Tip #4
The nightlife and what to expect
By now you probably purchased your ticket(s) for the concerts. There will be at least 4-5 artists on the main stage and even more in the lounges. If you love live music and concerts like me get ready for the show of a lifetime. The year I went we had great performers like Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson and Earth, Wind and Fire. One thing I regretted was not making our way to the lounges in order to see the more intimate performances. If you like to gamble then Harrah’s is the place to be. I learned how to play Blackjacks in New Orleans!
If you like to dance all you have to do is make your way to Bourbon Street. There are so many clubs and bars that I couldn't remember all the names. The best thing is that there are NO cover charges. So if you get bored, you can leave and make your way to the next spot. You will be surrounded by a lot of people, so be prepared!
FYI: The best drinks on Bourbon Street are the Hurricanes, Fish Bowls and the Hand Grenades. Drink with caution!
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| Bourbon Street is crazy! |
Have fun!
If this is your first Essence Music Festival, I can almost guarantee you that it may not be your last. Have fun; enjoy the culture, food and music. No trip is ever perfect so if you run into any issues just try your best to overlook them and keep the party going!
Are you going to Essence Music Festival this year? If not, have you been before?
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