Goodbye, New Orleans

I’m closing the chapter on NoLa for now, but it shouldn’t be long till I’m back on the city’s streets.

For our last night, we (my boyfriend and I) went out to Saenger Theater to watch “Dancing With the Stars Live”. I’m both a fan of the show and a lover of dance, so I was ecstatic.

Dancing With the Stars Live!

Saenger Theatre was beautiful on the inside but dimly lit so my iPhone camera could not do its gilded decor and Roman-style architecture justice. As we sat down in assigned seats, I didn’t bother to hide my squeals of excitement; I couldn’t wait for the show to start.

Once it did, the dancers went through stunning performances featuring traditional ballroom, latin ballroom, and contemporary dance styles. I sat transfixed in my chair, in awe of the art being created with bodies, and simultaneously thinking “it’s time to sign up for some dance classes“.

A highlight of the show for me was watching Olympic gold-medalist Laurie Hernandez (who won the mirrorball trophy) recreate some of her favorite performances with her partner, talented choreographer and professional dancer – Valentin Chmerkovskiy. They ended the show with an upbeat freestyle dance to Ben Rector’s “Brand New” that left me smiling all the way to the end.

After the show, we spent the remainder of our night on NoLa’s Frenchmen Street – home to classic jazz clubs, curbside hot dogs, and art markets- before returning to our quiet AirBnb in Treme to pack for our flights home.

∗∗∗

NoLa has quickly become one of my favorite cities in the U.S, and a place I see myself returning to in the future. Here are a few activities to get you started if you plan to visit:

1.Window shop or buy some art @ Frenchmen Arts Market.

2. Wait in line for beignets @ Café Du Monde – You don’t have to wait if you go early on a weekday – + Combine them with ice-cream from Laura’s Candies.3. Listen to or watch stellar talent @ Jackson Square.4. Design your own delicious hotdogs @ Dat Dog.5. Walk through the art-filled lawns @ Besthoff Sculpture Garden.6.Explore the French Quarter & its surrounding areas. 7.If you like Jazz, spend a night with the band @ The Spotted Cat Music Club.