NOLA Day 4: Winging it before going home
Last day in the Crescent City. Visited Acme Oyster House, Ashé Cultural Arts Center, NOLA Caye and Sucré.
I had a lot planned for Saturday morning, but life.
Traveling had me behind on the news, so I wanted to wake up early and get caught up on Gaza and the continued (we’re talking more than a century here) attacks on the Palestinian people. One hour of watching cable news turned into four. It’s hard to turn away from this atrocity. And you shouldn’t. We can’t ignore this. This is genocide.
While watching TV, I was also on my tablet promoting the interview I did with Axios D.C. about millennial homeownership. I didn’t know it was going to be published on Saturday until I landed in NOLA on Wednesday.
Thanks to late checkout with Marriott Bonvoy, I checked out of the hotel and stored my luggage a little before noon.
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Watch the day 4 companion vlog on TikTok and Reels.
Pre-Brunch at Acme Oyster House
I didn’t have enough chargrilled oysters on this trip. I had to rectify that.
I had no plans of setting foot on Canal or Bourbon Streets this trip. I did it when I went to Essence Fest in 2019. I’m good. Too much going on.
But there I was walking on both streets to get to Acme Oyster House. It was either that or Oceana Grill, which would’ve also required me to step foot on both streets. I was hungry, desperate, and had four hours left in town.
There was a line outside Acme Oyster House, but since I’m a party of one, I waited in line for less than 10 minutes.
Seated at the bar, I ordered a dozen chargrilled oysters and a prickly pear margarita.
Culture at Ashé Cultural Arts Center
Mama Jennifer from the Community Book Center told me about Ashé Cultural Arts Center near Central City.
Ashé just celebrated its 25th anniversary the weekend prior, so they were in recovery mode from the festivities and only had the lobby area open to the public.
There were exhibits about hip-hop at 50, Black Masking, and honoring our not-so-distant ancestors. There’s also a small shop with Afrocentric apparel and accessories, and natural haircare products.
Across the street is Café Reconcile. It’s only open during lunch hours Monday through Friday and closed on the weekends, so I missed my chance. I must eat at this critically acclaimed non-profit soul food restaurant the next time I’m in town.
Brunch at NOLA Caye
NOLA Caye would be a reliable brunch spot if I lived in the city. It was a little vibe.
Young, Black and fabulous friend groups all around me. So pretty much the Saturday brunch scene I’m used to in D.C.
The industrial chic restaurant is located in the Warehouse/Arts District. I didn’t make a reservation, but I was seated at the bar immediately.
I got the shrimp and jalapeño-cheddar grits. It’s one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes and my go-to brunch entree.
I washed it down with the Climate Change, a hibiscus margarita poured over spicy ice cubes.
Dessert at Sucré
I heard great things about Sucré online. There’s a location in the French Quarter, but I opted for the one on Magazine Street.
The sweets shop is very cute on the inside with its pastels and gold color scheme.
I got the strawberry-frosted cupcake and my daily Diet Coke to have in store while I read Before We Fall on my Kindle.
The cupcake was great. I couldn’t eat all of the frosting though. Four-year-old me can handle all of that frosting. Thirty-four-year-old me can’t.
I got three macarons—salted caramel, strawberry, and café au lait—to enjoy on the plane. I’m still thinking about the salted caramel.
Tomorrow: The NOLA itinerary I planned vs. the NOLA itinerary I actually followed. Both will be downloadable and editable.