Yoga in New Orleans

I started out the day with a yoga class in New Orleans. I have been doing yoga 3-4 days a week in Portland, so I thought it would be good to keep it going. This studio came highly recommended and my sister-in-law had already done a few classes, so I headed down there. Because of an abbreviated holiday schedule, it was packed out. I have to say it was a good class and I felt energized after it. Luckily it was an all levels flow class, not the power yoga class they advertised. I try to avoid "power" or "core" yoga. If you are ever in New Orleans and you want to get in some yoga, I can recommend Wild Lotus Yoga.

After yoga, I undid all the hard work with a roast beef po'boy from Quick Check out in Metarie. I have talked about this place a few times before, so I'll just say, it wasn't as great as usual, but still good. There are a million places to get a good sandwich in New Orleans, so unless you are in the neighborhood, I wouldn't make this a must eat place.

After the big lunch, we took a walk around Audubon Park, where we dreamed about owning one of the amazing houses that back on to the park. This is a great place to go for a walk or a run. It is right across from the zoo and Tulane University. There is also a nice (but short) golf course within the park. The main attractions are the beautiful live oaks, with Spanish moss growing off them.

There is nothing like reading a book about New Orleans, when you are in New Orleans. I finally started Zeitoun, Dave Eggers new book, which tells the true story of the Zeitoun family's experience during Katrina. So far it is great, but I'll give a better review later.

We closed out the night with a flurry. We stopped in at the newly renovated and reopened Roosevelt Hotel to check out their bar and to get the most talked about drink in New Orleans (outside of a hurricane) the sazerac. The hotel looks great and very swanky. The bar was packed out, but the waitress was very nice and we were able to get a seat. The sazerac is supposedly the official cocktail of New Orleans, and was invented by an apothecary. It is made with rye whiskey, bitters and sugar and tastes a little like cough syrup. If you get the chance, it is worth checking out.With the warmth of the sazerac in our bellies, we took the street car to the end of St. Charles and got a burger at Cooter Brown's, which also a good place to get raw oysters and beers from around the world. They also have about 20 TVs, you can watch a few games as well.

No trip to New Orleans would be complete without hitting the Maple Leaf to see the Rebirth Brass Band. They have been around since 1983 and in my opinion are one of the classics. They started playing after high school marching band was over and continued the tradition of New Orleans music, through many line up changes. Despite it being 35 degrees outside, they were still able to pack out the room (way past fire code) and generate a sweaty mess of people swinging and dancing. If you ever check this out, don't be scared off by the long line, it moves fast and it is well worth it.

Wild Lotus Yoga
4842 Perrier Street
New Orleans, LA 70115-3950
(504) 899-0047

Roosevelt Hotel
123 Baronne Street
New Orleans, LA 70112-2303
(504) 648-1200

Cooter Brown's Tavern
509 South Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118-1005
(504) 866-9104

Maple Leaf Bar
8316 Oak Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 866-9359