Jazz Fest 2010 Survival Guide

Late Night

As always, there is no shortage of amazing late night entertainment during Jazz Fest. With so many options it's near impossible to select one show over another, and that's why you'll want to look at our complete concert listings to find what tickles your fancy. As you're perusing our virtual pages be sure to give some thought towards venues. If you've never been to the Rock 'n' Bowl or raged on the Riverboat Creole Queen you might want to make that happen. There's also the newly reopened Mahalia Jackson Theatre, as well as always reliable haunts House of Blues, Howlin' Wolf, DBA and Republic. And no trip to NOLA is complete without a stop at Tip's. And if you can somehow sneak into the My Morning Jacket/Preservation Hall Jazz Band show at the tiny Preservation Hall on Saturday, April 24, more power to you!

The Jazzfest Grids are an incredibly useful tool to help you plan your nighttime parties. Use the links below for a complete breakdown of all the late night shows.

First Weekend :: Second Weekend :: Daze Between :: Extra Days

New Orleans Restaurant Suggestions

Higher End

1. Cochon :: 930 Tchoupitoulas St.
A local favorite and great value serving up the classics and more. They're offering a private dining experience with a special Jazz Fest menu.

2. Dante's Kitchen :: 736 Dante St.
The best 'NOLA comfort food' in the city. Get the shrimp n' grits. Chef Emann is the boss!

3. Dick & Jenny's :: 4501 Tchoupitoulas St.
Uptown near Tip's, this casual fine dinning restaurant takes no reservations and is open on Mondays.

On A Budget

1. Domilise's Po-Boys :: 5240 Annunciation St. (right off Tchoupitoulas)
The quintessential po-boy resource. It's a local favorite for a reason.

2. Coop's Place :: 1109 Decatur St.
If ya don't know now ya know! This just might be the best fried chicken and seafood gumbo in town. Get the Taste Plate or the two piece dark with rabbit jambalaya.

3. Verti Marte :: 1201 Royal St.
A French Quarter staple, this joint is open 24/7 and serves real food at a reasonable price.

Insider Tips

When you're leaving the Fairgrounds after a long day of dancing in the sun, don't rush right into the cab line. Walk on over to Liuzza's at 3636 Bienville Ave. Get yourself a bite to eat or a drink and dig the scene. There's always bands playing in the area and there's no better people watching than the sea of heads rolling out of the Fairgrounds.

Don't deny the Lagniappe Stage. As well as Rotary Downs, Red Stick Ramblers, Grayson Capps, Klezmer Allstars and Bobby Long all playing there, it's the ONLY place to get fresh Louisiana oysters! I know y'all come for the music, but you stay for the fresh, Louisiana caught seafood. Lache pas la patate!

If you're looking for the sweetest local t-shirts, stay out of the tourist traps and be sure to check out Dirty Coast. Run by a bunch of great NOLA cats, the money goes right back to the people who make this city so amazing, and the shirt designs are just awesome. Get one for yourself and bring another home; they make great gifts!

Resources

Official New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival website: nojazzfest.com. This link includes "The Cubes" which break down every set of the weekend by artist, stage, day and time, the link also includes a list of all food at the festival, news, artist bios, ticket info and Jazz Fest history.

Jazzfest Grids website: jazzfestgrids.com. This link has a complete listing of all late night club shows for First Weekend, Second Weekend, Daze Between and Extra Daze.

JamBase Jazz Fest Show Listings: New Orleans 4/22-5/3. This link will show you all events scheduled in New Orleans from April 22 (the start of First Weekend) through May 3 (the end of Second Weekend).
JamBase 2009 Jazz Fest Coverage: Weekend 1, Weekend 2