New Orleans: Travel Journal #1

  The Ririe Woodbury Dance Company traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana in November to perform as part of the Alwin Nikolais Cenntenial. We were presented by the New Orleans Ballet Association and were treated wonderfully by our presenters. We stayed at the Sheraton New Orleans right on Canal St.

This was my first time to New Orleans and it's definitely an interesting city. The first night we arrived there was a huge Anthropologist convention going on at our hotel and the lobby was just filled to the brim with people. When we headed out to dinner we were greeted by a marching band parade down the street! Great music and free entertainment! 

The view from the room at the Sheraton

Our first night we at dinner at the Red Fish Grill on Bourbon St. It was pretty good southern food even if we had to wait over an hour for a table. Since we were in New Orleans I had to order something authentic. I decided on the Herbsaint Flamed Catfish. It was served with sauteed spinach, yellow split peas, and tobacco onion rings.  I'm sure there are better seafood restaurants in the city but for something that is authentic, reasonably priced and close to the hotels near Bourbon St. this is a great option when visiting.

Inside the bar at Red Fish Grill. I love Fleur de Lys's and they are everywhere in NOLA!

The best food we encountered was at Satsuma Cafe !!!  

If you go to this city you must stop at this lovely cafe and coffee shop. 

We went here both days when we had breaks before our performances!

Random people playing instruments down the street

This restaurant/cafe was found by one of our dancer's boyfriends who came with us on tour. While we were in the theatre rehearsing, he came upon this great little cafe in the Bywater district. The Satsuma Cafe definitely felt like a place only NoLa foodie locals would know about. It had a friendly, chill atmosphere and very reasonable prices. Menu items included fresh squeezed juices, espresso, amazing salads, sandwiches, and breakfast items, all using local ingredients and whole foods. We went back multiple times because it was so close to our theatre and so good! The hot chai tea was yummy and their specials menu always sounded mouth-watering. The first day I had a special sandwich, pear and brie grilled cheese.



The second trip back I felt like breakfast so I had their egg sandwich with avocado and
arugula on hearty wheat bread. They have a lot of vegan baked goods that are very tasty as well.

Inside the Satsuma Cafe

The egg sandwich and chai tea

Satsuma cafe has great signs

Outside on Satsuma's patio

  Whenever I travel, like most foodies I end up coming back with food related souvenirs. Since we didn't have too much shopping time I was just able to pick up some chicory coffee from the famous Cafe Du Monde. I just bought mine at the airport with leftover per diem! This coffee is great made with a french press or as cafe au lait. I  just saw the other day that you can buy this at World Market stores!

  So if you are headed to NOLA anytime soon definitely check out these two restaurants, pick up some chicory coffee, and catch a dance performance presented by New Orleans Ballet Association!

Alwin Nikolais Centennial 

Celebrating 100 years of Nikolais (1910-2010)
Performed by Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company
November 19, 8 p.m.
November 20, 2 p.m.
November 20, 8 p.m.
Freda Lupin Memorial Hall, NOCCA 
Co-presented with The NOCCA Institute

Before Moses Pendleton and MOMIX, there was the creative genius Alwin Nikolais! Celebrated as the father of multimedia theater, Nikolais was a trailblazing choreographer, composer, costume, set and lighting designer who created stunning works of grand illusion. In partnership with The Nikolais/Louis Foundation for Dance, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company is now the home for the Nikolais repertoire that spans over sixty years. In honor of the Alwin Nikolais Centennial, the company performs a program of legendary masterworks, including Crucible(1985), Tensile Involvement (1955) and the premiere of the restored mixed-media spectacle Temple (1974).