Virtual Vacations
Welcome to New Orleans
Via Austin
In the city where laissez les bons temps rouler rules, discover some of the gems that makes the Big Easy unlike anywhere else in America. Put on your comfy clothes, grab a Sazerac, and let’s go.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, FOUND is producing free Virtual Vacations to encourage everyone to learn more about global culture while social distancing.
The local businesses, restaurants, and bars in our own hometowns of Houston and Austin need our support too, so we encourage you to order take-out and delivery as often as you can via our Perfect Pairings.
New Orleans has a very special place in our heart. We wish them a speedy recovery and we’ll be there as soon as possible.
Music in the air
April 23-26 and April 30 to May 3 would have been the 51st annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Celebrate at home by livestreaming performances of your favorite artist or musician via WWOZ OnlineWire. They have a daily listing of performances beginning on April 23. The Bayou Boogaloo is also putting together weekly live streaming programming via their Facebook page.
On April 25th, some of New Orleans best performing artists are convening for The Band Together Benefit, a virtual music festival where all proceeds go towards supporting up-and-coming musicians in the city.
Continue your day visiting the The New Orleans Jazz Museum where you can catch free weekly musical content.
You can also livestream and discover new artists via New Orleans Culturalyst or check out Buffa’s live stream concerts, too! House of Blues NOLA is also live streaming concerts via their Instagram.
Stop by the historic Preservation Hall, which has been celebrating Jazz music in New Orleans since the early 1950’s. Ben Jaffee of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band is opening his doors for nightly concerts in his backyard via Instagram Live.
Local Austin Pairings
Start your morning off with some Beignets & Jam from our favorite French/Vietnamese inspired restaurant Elizabeth St. Cafe. They are providing curbside pick-up 11am – 9pm Tuesday – Friday and 10am – 9pm Saturday & Sunday.
Don’t have a beignet without a cafe au lait. Order your cafe au lait online for pick-up at any of Caffe Medici’s locations listed upon checkout.
During Covid, the regular rules don’t apply. In New Orleans, there are no regular rules, so why not start your day off with a shot of espresso and a Bloody Mary? Radio Coffee + Beer is offering online ordering for curbside pick-up.
Need another coffee + booze option? Pick up some biscuit bites (gotta have that Southern staple) a latte, and a house cocktail at Better Half Coffee + Cocktails. They are offering curbside pick-up and delivery to some areas Monday – Sunday.
*Local law states alcohol cannot be ordered before 10am, please call establishment to verify*
Throw me somethin’ Mister/Sister!
Think you’re missing out because Mardi Gras is over for the year? Nope. The history and pagentry live all year round. Start by admiring the amazing, colorful floats held at Mardi Gras World. You can even see them being made by hand.
Can’t score a ticket to a Mardi Gras ball but still wanna see what it’s like? Check out the history and some ball costumes at Arnaud’s Restaurant. Head back downstairs and grab some of their souffled potatos while you pop into the French 75 bar and get, of course, a French 75.
Local Austin Pairings
While we can’t get our hands on some delectable Parkway Bakery poor boys, we can order delicious po’boys and more southern home cookin’ dishes at The Cavalier via curbside pickup.
For a veg friendly alternative to southern-fried charm, Billy’s on Burnet offers quite the selection for a late lunch via to-go ordering only everyday from Noon-8pm.
For a classic offering of Cajun dishes, Evangeline Cafe is offering their full menu (including beer and wine) for curbside pickup and delivery to some areas (via phone order only).
Pick up some fried (or fresh!) fish and gumbo at Quality Seafood at quality prices for take-out and curbside. Quality Seafood is also taking preorders for crawfish (we’ve got some more options for seabugs during dinner pairings below).
Playing the Tourist
Walk off lunch by heading down to the Central Business District (CBD). Start with a visit to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art exhibits. After, it’s only a quick jaunt to the National WWII Museum, one of the city’s most fascinating museums in our opinion! They have a ton of webinars and podcasts on specific topics, some of which are relevant to current life. Curious to why the national museum for World War II is in New Orleans? It makes complete sense.
After art and education, take a load off and catch a ride on the St. Charles Streetcar to Lafayette Cemetery. Switch the seats on the streetcar and go back to the French Quarter. Stop by The Historic New Orleans Collection as they present their “History from Home” exhibit. Just around the corner, make sure to walk over to Jackson Square Park and take in the St. Louis Cathedral and some amazing people watching.
Looking to get out of the center of town? City Park is the home of New Orleans’ Museum of Art. Admire their current exhibits (with more being added) available via Google Cultural Institute.
Want to discover lesser-known New Orleans topics? New Orleans Secret Tours are offering their tours virtually via their Facebook page. End your day by catching the best insta-worth sunset shot aboard the Steamboat Natchez.
Local Austin Pairings
Etouffee, Jambalaya, and Cajun Poutine are a must at Baton Creole for takeout orders.
To sate your crawfish craving, we’ve rounded up a few establishments serving up some tasty mud bugs:
- Mandala Kitchen & Bar is offering curbside pickup and delivery to some areas via ChowNow (grab an order of their Cajun fried rice, too!).
- HooDoo Crawfish is offering crawfish pick-up or delivery by the lb via their website.
- Le Bleu is cooking up Viet-crawfish and crawfish with the fixin’s for pick-up or via delivery on UberEats.
- Stuffed Cajun Meat Market and Specialty Food is where you need to go for all things southern (boudin anyone?), they are also offering crawfish by the lb via ordering online for pick-up.
For a fancy night in, Clark’s Oyster Bar is offering a limited menu for curbside pickup. Make it extra special with ordering their caviar and Mint Julep!
Nightcap
Close out your evening at one of our favorite cocktail bars in London, Cahoot’s. They are posting a cocktail masterclasses on their Instagram. Drinks while taking the Tube that don't come in a can...yes please!
Learn to make an East Gin & Tonic from Bombay Sapphire Cocktail’s website. We had the honor of visiting Bombay Sapphire's amazing distillery last year and was wowed by the hospitality and their focus on conservancy (oh, and the gin).
Since you're upping your cocktail skills at home, join the blokes from Here Nor There (HNT) on their Instagram IGTV for some serious lessons. They learned their trade at one of our favorite bars in London, Trailer Happiness, and now we get to enjoy their drinks locally. While some are not traditionally British cocktails, learning how to make a proper Margarita is always welcome.
For a very British summer-y cocktail to ease the days indoors, opt for a refreshing Pimm’s cup or a bubbly-blackberry Bramble.