Taking a trip on the Crescent - Now, you tell me!

[barskin]

I was wondering why I arranged this trip at the same time I was planning to go to Texas, so I looked at the trans going earlier. I saw Crescent after Crescent marked "cancelled," What's going on?

 

[barskin]

Felix's Oyster Bar for the Crawfish Etouffé. The Acme is close to Felix's so it is a double whammy.

I definitely second both these places. And I recommend a dinner at one of the two oldest New Orleans restaurants - Galatoire's or Antoine"s. (That is, if you have the dineros!) They are quite the experience. And breakfast at Brennan's, of course, for their Bananas Foster.

Oh, I plan to spend some real money on at least a few of the finer restaurants. Thanks for the suggestion. Bananas Foster for breakfast - divine decadence!

 

[barskin]

Crescent cancellations, Here's the news:
Amtrak ‘Crescent’ to be canceled on select dates this winter | Trains Magazine

"Service will be cancelled Monday through Thursday on the following dates:

• Jan. 6, 7, 8, 9
• Jan. 20, 21, 22, 23
• Jan. 27, 28, 29, 30
• Feb. 3, 4, 5,
  On the above dates, train No. 19 will terminate and train No. 20 will originate in Atlanta. No service will be provided to Anniston, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Meridian, Laurel, Hattiesburg, Picayune, Slidell, and New Orleans. Service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will operate normally, but may encounter delays due to speed restrictions and freight train interference."

May encounter delays? More than all the delays I've been reading about?

 

[John Santos]

Those dates are NOT Mondays through Thursdays. They are Thursdays through Sundays. Someone needs to check their calendars

Crescent cancellations, Here's the news:
Amtrak ‘Crescent’ to be canceled on select dates this winter | Trains Magazine

"Service will be cancelled Monday through Thursday on the following dates:

• Jan. 6, 7, 8, 9
• Jan. 20, 21, 22, 23
• Jan. 27, 28, 29, 30
• Feb. 3, 4, 5,
  On the above dates, train No. 19 will terminate and train No. 20 will originate in Atlanta. No service will be provided to Anniston, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Meridian, Laurel, Hattiesburg, Picayune, Slidell, and New Orleans. Service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will operate normally, but may encounter delays due to speed restrictions and freight train interference."

May encounter delays? More than all the delays I've been reading about?

.

 

[barskin]

Those dates are NOT Mondays through Thursdays. They are Thursdays through Sundays. Someone needs to check their calendars

.

That's right! Good going, trains.com.

 

[Ziv]

This could turn into a long thread jack, but favorite places in New Orleans is a subject that not even Alex Trebeck has the answer, um, the question needed!
Another touristy place that is worth hitting for a quick bite is Cafe du Monde for Cafe au Lait (with chickory) and a three pack of beignet. Not great coffee or pastries, but rather good and the ambiance is excellent.
Or Johnny's (or the Parkway?) for a shrimp Po Boy. Truth be told, the Acme has one that is nearly as good, too.
Gumbo? I am not sure, I loved every one I tried.
Andouille sausage? Maybe the Atchalafaya?

I definitely second both these places. And I recommend a dinner at one of the two oldest New Orleans restaurants - Galatoire's or Antoine"s. (That is, if you have the dineros!) They are quite the experience. And breakfast at Brennan's, of course, for their Bananas Foster.

Oh, I plan to spend some real money on at least a few of the finer restaurants. Thanks for the suggestion. Bananas Foster for breakfast - divine decadence!

 

[GAT]

Going slightly off topic here, but what happens/who is responsible, if: (1) a trip you have already purchased is cancelled, and (2) a connection booked as a single fare is missed due to Amtrak delays? I realize these are two separate situations that may have two separate solutions. But both might apply to my upcoming trip plan. I have a single ticket for EMY - ATL on CZ, Cardinal, and Crescent. No stopovers. Thanks.

 

[Rasputin]

Felix's Oyster Bar for the Crawfish Etouffe. The Acme is close to Felix's so it is a double whammy.

We found that we prefer Felix's. The food at the Acme is good but the acoustics are poor and it is very noisy, Difficult to converse when dining. Maybe okay if you are dining alone but we had trouble hearing the waiter there.

 

[GAT]

The three times I was at Acme, I ate alone at the counter for lunch, early afternoon. Ate nothing but oysters and had great conversations with the older gentlemen shucking them for me. They loved to talk, and as long as I kept asking, they kept shucking. A perfect way to pass an hour or two.

 

[barskin]

Going slightly off topic here, but what happens/who is responsible, if: (1) a trip you have already purchased is cancelled, and (2) a connection booked as a single fare is missed due to Amtrak delays? I realize these are two separate situations that may have two separate solutions. But both might apply to my upcoming trip plan. I have a single ticket for EMY - ATL on CZ, Cardinal, and Crescent. No stopovers. Thanks

First, may I just say, wow! What a trip. The Zephyr (very jealous about that one) to the Cardinal to the Crescent. Then, well, I have read that when the train misses your connection, they have to put you up and get you on the next train. I have also heard horror situations, wherein the next train only had Coach seats, and you had been in the sleeper car. Arrrgghh!! Do you have long times between connections?

 

[barskin]

We found that we prefer Felix's. The food at the Acme is good but the acoustics are poor and it is very noisy, Difficult to converse when dining. Maybe okay if you are dining alone but we had trouble hearing the waiter there.

I'm getting great advice here!

 

[barskin]

This could turn into a long thread jack, but favorite places in New Orleans is a subject that not even Alex Trebeck has the answer, um, the question needed!

Oh, I would love this thread jack. I need all the suggestions on restaurants I can get. Going to New Orleans without indulging in the fabulous food would be like taking a trip to the Grand Canyon and keeping your eyes closed.

 

[Railspike]

Irene's on Bienville St. Killer!!

 

[barskin]

Irene's on Bienville St. Killer!!

Looking at the menu right now and getting hungry!
irenes.pdf (irenesnola.com)

 

[happycamper]

The Best piece of advice I got here for New Orleans was to be careful with the taxis outside the station or anywhere here as they do NOT drop the meter. You HAVE to ask when you get in how much it will be before you get going. The taxis were already there and very easy outside the station when we arrived late at almost 11pm on the Sunset Limited. This was a few years ago and we took them back and forth to hotels a couple times. The were only a few dollars more than Uber and easy.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Oh, I would love this thread jack. I need all the suggestions on restaurants I can get. Going to New Orleans without indulging in the fabulous food would be like taking a trip to the Grand Canyon and keeping your eyes closed.

Coops on Decatur by the French Market is one of my favorites, turned on to years ago by Sunset Ltd Crew members.

Mostly Locals, with Killer food ( the Rabbit Jambalya is to die for),a great Juke Box and Ice Cold Beer @ good prices, and working girls and Street Characters hanging out.

 

[GAT]

Coop's menu looks fantastic. I hope I can get there. I arrive NO Monday evening. They are closed Tuesday and Wednesday. I may have to jigger my schedule a bit. Coop's sounds like it has a 7-Mile House San Francisco kind of vibe.

 

[BoulderCO]

Make sure you spend some time on Frenchman Street. Not as boisterous as Bourbon St, but actually better music. Lots of small clubs to choose from. Just wander along the street and go into whatever place has the most appealing music. Also, many of the street performers in NO are awesome - music you would pay big $$ to hear elsewhere.

 

[barskin]

Coops on Decatur by the French Market is one of my favorites, turned on to years ago by Sunset Ltd Crew members.

Mostly Locals, with Killer food ( the Rabbit Jambalya is to die for),a great Juke Box and Ice Cold Beer @ good prices, and working girls and Street Characters hanging out.

Make sure you spend some time on Frenchman Street. Not as boisterous as Bourbon St, but actually better music. Lots of small clubs to choose from. Just wander along the street and go into whatever place has the most appealing music. Also, many of the street performers in NO are awesome - music you would pay big $$ to hear elsewhere.

Thank you so much for your suggestions. This is such a great help.

 

[barskin]

Now, another (perhaps?) problem. I want to go hear jazz and blues....but, I don't drink. Now, being around people who do drink does not bother me at all. But, will it bother the places I go to that I am not buying alcoholic beverages? Maybe there are places where I can spend a lot of money on food, so they won't mind?

 

[DonNewcomb]

Oh, sure. It's the Hotel Villa Convento.

You can take the street car from Union Station to within a couple of blocks of the hotel. Not exactly the "heart" of the Quarter but you don't really want that. A quite corner is better. Some good restaurants nearby.

As for the Crescent. just MHO but enjoy some long naps. It's a snoozer. A lot of trees.

 

[caravanman]

I am sure that not drinking alcohol would not be an issue anywhere. Just relax, buy a soft drink, and give a big tip!
I have heard some jazz musicians busking on the streets, I wonder if you might hear "Tuba Skinny", a you tube favourite of mine:

 

[barskin]

I am sure that not drinking alcohol would not be an issue anywhere. Just relax, buy a soft drink, and give a big tip!
I have heard some jazz musicians busking on the streets, I wonder if you might hear "Tuba Skinny", a you tube favourite of mine:

Thanks for introducing me to Tuba Skinny!

I know they won't mind me not drinking alcohol; what I am afraid they might mind is my not spending money on alcohol. Soft drinks are pretty cheap. But, yes, I intend to tip very well - as if I buying higher priced drinks.

 

[JeanA]

If you are a breakfast eater/diner aficianado kind of person... I highly recommend Majoria’s Commerce Restaurant on Camp. It's out of the way, a hidden gem, authentic southern fare. In NOLA I usually like to eat big at breakfast and coast until dinner...

 

[barskin]

If you are a breakfast eater/diner aficianado kind of person... I highly recommend Majoria’s Commerce Restaurant on Camp. It's out of the way, a hidden gem, authentic southern fare. In NOLA I usually like to eat big at breakfast and coast until dinner...

Great idea. Thanks!!