RT Post 9 – The City of New Orleans

May 25 2014 by Kate Cuthbert

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RT Post 9 – The City of New Orleans

In which Kate makes friends with a beautiful city.

Part of the draw of this year’s RT was without a doubt the location. I’m not surprised that RT had over 2500 registered attendees – more than, say, Kansas City in 2013. RT took strong advantage of the beauty and majesty of its setting and debuted out-of-conference events for the first time, including Mardi Gras World and a Bourbon Street Pub Crawl.

There was also no catering included in the conference this year, so that gave ample opportunity to grab a few friends and try both famous eateries and hidden gems. And taking an hour out of the day to walk the streets became a very popular pass time.

But, guys. The food!

Brie-stuffed French toast with a brandy glaze and mulberry sauce.
Brie-stuffed French toast with a brandy glaze and mulberry sauce. GAH! It was divine.
This was, without exception, the *sweetest* thing I have ever had to drink.
This was, without exception, the *sweetest* thing I have ever had to drink.
Beignets. The only thing you need.
Beignets. The only thing you need.

I visited New Orleans Cemetary #1, to pay my respects to the Voodoo Queen:

Marie Laveau's tomb, complete with offerings.
Marie Laveau’s tomb, complete with offerings.
The Italian Association tomb
The Italian Association tomb
The cemetery is pretty run down, and then took a beating during Katherine.
The cemetery is pretty run down, and then took a beating during Katherine.
The older family tombs often had protective gates, as well as marble and iron doors.
The older family tombs often had protective gates, as well as marble and iron doors.

On the streets of New Orleans:

that ride is pimped...
that ride is pimped…
There is music everywhere, and in the French Quarter, it's not unusual for streets to shut down to accommodate a pop-up concert.
There is music everywhere, and in the French Quarter, it’s not unusual for streets to shut down to accommodate a pop-up concert.
They also cater for the rental markets, complete with housemates - corporeal or otherwise.
They also cater for the rental markets, complete with housemates – corporeal or otherwise.
You can also get your voodoo needs met - from good luck charms to curses for your enemies.
You can also get your voodoo needs met – from good luck charms to curses for your enemies.
This is (allegedly) the oldest bar in the USA. My companion said the inside looked like something out of Harry Potter (it totally did)
This is (allegedly) the oldest bar in the USA. My companion said the inside looked like something out of Harry Potter (it totally did)
Balconies don't have support poles. Terraces do. Everyone hangs out on them regardless.
Balconies don’t have support poles. Terraces do. Everyone hangs out on them regardless.
Finally, Old Man River himself, the Mississippi.
Finally, Old Man River himself, the Mississippi.

New Orleans is an absolutely gorgeous city, and I left feeling like I had barely scratched the surface of all it had to offer. It was an inspired place to hold a conference, and one of the most welcoming places to play tourist.

(I do wish it were a bit easier to find a vegetable though!)

This concludes my travelogue of the RT Conference. I hope you enjoyed it! I still have 5 (five) USB keys loaded up with Escape Titles left over. If you’d like to win one, leave a comment on the blog letting me know what you liked most about the coverage, or what you’d most like to see at RT or New Orleans and include your email address in the comment. I will randomly choose 5 comments to win the USB keys! This contest will close 1 June 2014. Best of luck!

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