Snake and Jakes Christmas Club Lounge - My favorite dive bar in New Orleans

Photo taken from Snakes website

For the first six months that I knew of Snake and Jake's existence, I had no idea where the bar was. I would show up around 3am close to blackout drunk with a few friends. It wasn't until I was walking by during the day that I actually saw the windowless converted tractor shed from the outside. The only indicator or its purpose was the word "BAR" painted in block letters next to the door. For a few months I frequented the bar every Monday night to play cards with friends. More recently it's become my post Maple Leaf hang spot. It is the darkest, dirtiest most badass place I've ever ordered a drink.

The Good
-This is the ultimate dive experience. There are no windows, a few broken down couches and a few tables. No surface is clean and locals take up most of the seats.
-There are some interesting characters who hang there. Sometimes the crowd gets a little too hipster-intellectual for my taste (usually the earlier late crowd on weekends - the ones who can't make it past 2am) but for the most part you'll have either a very good or a very drunk conversation.
-Usually the bar stays open till sunrise or later - depending on how the bartenders feel about staying.

The not so Good
-It's a dive, folks. The bathrooms are disgusting.
-The space is small and gets packed easily - which means there may or may not be seating when you get there.
-That hipster-intellectual crowd I mentioned before can't really hold their liquor. Women, get ready to be hit on. They're pretty easy to brush off though (silly pacifists)

Good to know
-They do not, under any circumstances, serve anything with energy drinks. Which really makes a lot of sense (the last thing a bartender needs is a drunk kid getting hyped up at 5 in the morning)
-They do accept credit cards - so get ready to blow all of your hard earned money on girls you won't remember and drinks you'll eventually throw up.
-No one really starts showing up till 12:30-1am. Before that it's just the neighborhood alcoholics.

Buffa's - Best Late Night Food in Town

Photo Taken From Buffa's Facebook

I never thought bar food could actually wow me. Buffa's Bar was one of the two bars I went to this weekend that absolutely killed it in the kitchen. Honestly, even without the food I'd probably still want to hang at this spot. The darkly-lit, single small room (side note: there is a non smoking dining area in the back) with a bar, jukebox and a couple tables is my kind of scene.


I showed up with a kid from the neighborhood, and it became clear to me that almost everyone in the bar was also from the neighborhood. The bartenders and patrons were swapping stories about old friends ("Isn't he in jail in Thailand?" etc) and chatting about the weather as they drank. By the time I finished my meal I was sold. You will be hard pressed to find me at any other dive bar when I make it downtown.

The Good
-Where to start? The fries are a gift from God. Crunchy on the outside, melt in your mouth hot on the inside.
-I had one of the best black bean burgers I've ever eaten. That's right fellow vegetarians, a black bean burger in New Orleans. So. Good.
-Aside from Crystal at every table, there were three shelves of hot sauces in the back room.
-Great jukebox selection as well as good people picking the music.

The Not-so-Good
I'm hard pressed to think of anything. I mean, the bathrooms were regular bar bathrooms (welcome to New  Orleans) and the bar stools didn't have cushions.

Good to Know
-As of recently, Buffa's has started taking credit cards. So bust em out and get drunk!
-They do have feta in their selection of sandwich cheese on their menu. I got some on my fries.

Tipitina's Uptown

 Photo taken from Wikipedia

Tipitina's one of those vital organs in the body of New Orleans. The venue hosts both local and international acts and caters to a wide variety of musical genres, allowing the music lover in everyone to get in on the action. Most larger venues tend to suck for one reason or another - the New Orleans Arena has stadium seating (which makes sense for Hornets games, but is less fun for concerts), places like the Hard Rock Cafe and House of Blues smell like corporate bullshit, and places like Rock n' Bowl lack the vibe that a packed, sweaty crowd and good music provide. Tipitina's has a capacity of 1,000 but manages to keep the small intimate venue feeling alive.

The Good
-Three separate bars, two downstairs, one up, all with seasoned bartenders
-Balcony viewing upstairs, most of which is good
-Bathrooms downstairs/upstairs
-Generally great line up of shows - no matter what you like
-One of the nicest door guys in the city
-Free Friday shows during the summer months!

The Not-So-Good
-There's no possible way to adequately staff the bars, so you'll have a decent wait for drinks at a packed show (it's not all bad, I've made lot's of shot buddies in line at the bar)
-Overpriced drinks by comparison to the rest of the city
-When the venue is at capacity, that nice crowded vibe feels more like hanging with drunken sardines

Good to Know
-If you want to go to a show for an out of town or famous band, buy your tickets early. This place does sell out pretty regularly
-Pregame at one of the bars on Magazine, it's only about 5 blocks away from the venue and the drinks will be half as expensive
-Ladies: the upstairs bathroom is way cleaner than the downstairs
-Non Smoking
-Standing Room only (more room to dance!)

The Columns Hotel/Bar

The Columns is a gorgeous old hotel located on St. Charles and General Taylor. The ample outdoor patio seating and the bar on the first floor provide you with the perfect setting to pretend you've traveled back a hundred years in time. If you're looking to add a little genteel New Orleans culture to your life, this is the place to go.

The Good:
-There are tons of comfortable nooks in the bar area to hide in.
-The bartenders can make your drink, whatever it is and they have pretty decent happy hour prices.
-The appetizer-style menu is as good as any other upscale bar.
-Ladies, don't bother with the bathroom in the bar area, go to the one to the left behind the hotel desk - two clean stalls+a sitting room.

The Not-As Good:
-They're a little overpriced for upper shelf liquor.
-The bar tends to get crowded with frat graduates on gamedays and later on weekend nights.
-The cocktail waitresses are awesome girls, but have a hard time keeping up when the bar gets busy.

Good to Know:
-As of 2011, the bar area is officially non-smoking (which is either good or bad depending on who you are).
-Dress up or dress down - anything from a t shirt to a cocktail dress is considered acceptable (although cocktail dresses are a lot more fun).

St. Joe's Bar - Magazine Street

Last night I checked out St. Joe's on magazine for the first time. I stopped in around dinner time for a quick whiskey-on-the-rocks aperitif with a friend who suggested the place. I didn't get much further than the first seat available, but from the bar I definitely liked what I saw.

St. Joe's was appropriately dark for the rainy evening outside. The low lighting was accented by the classic neon bar signs and old rich wood of the bar. Almost every bar stool was filled with people of all ages, all quietly enjoying their own conversations. At that early hour I figured most of the patrons were regulars; most knew the bartender by first name and a few knew everyone else in the crowd (except for my friend and me).

The bartender was really nice. Even when he was absorbed in conversation at the other end of the bar he still kept one eye out for drinks that were running low. He never forgot what bourbon I had ordered, which was nice because after a few of them I had begun to forget myself.

My friend told me that St. Joe's is known for their blueberry mojitos. I'm not a big fan of sugary drinks, so I didn't order one, but I saw the bartender serving them to numerous people while I sat there.

I would imagine that this place gets pretty packed at night. It's small enough that even an average crowd would pack the place. I liked the evening ambience, but if I saw a large crowd inside I doubt I'd even walk in.

If you're going to/coming from dinner on Magazine St. this is definitely a good place to stop off.

The Radiators Anniversary Shows at Tips - After the fact

The Radiators killed it this weekend.

Both Friday and Saturday were packed at Tipitina's as the Radiators played two full sets - going till at least 2:30 in the morning both nights.

I showed up on Friday afternoon to help Benjammin' deck Tips out in massive tie dye tapestries. The effect was incredible - the balcony and stage lined with tapestries in Mardi Gras colors. Ben also set up a set of projectors for his tie dye inspired light show, which would be projected onto Professor Longhair's face above the stage. 

On Friday night, Honey Island Swamp Band opened for the Rads, starting around 9:30. They are a great country band, and although their style is completely different than the Rads, they had the crowd going right off the bat. Pooba, the show's host, came out at 11:11 to introduce the band and everything beyond that was a blur of color and jam music. Frenchy painted the band that first night as well, next to Benjammin as he controlled the light show.

On Saturday, the Walrus, a local Beatles cover band, started the show. Their opening set was a little quieter, with less of a crowd watching the show. Once it got closer to 11pm again, the house was packed. The band was great, and there were a few moments when the more devoted fans got pretty emotional. All in all it was a really fun show.

One of the only problems I had with my entire experience had to do with Tip's itself. The bar was so packed that it took twenty minutes to get a drink upstairs (where it is usually less crowded) because the bar was understaffed with only two people making drinks. Since I knew I didn't want to wait that long again, I got myself four shots of Maker's Mark on the rocks which was both a great and terrible idea.

The crowd downstairs was a bit too devoted at times. When I was trying to push through to get to stage left to go backstage, people kept telling me to turn back, or wouldn't move for me. When I tried to tell them that I wasn't going to take their spot, that I was only interested in making sure my boss was happy, they either didn't care or became even more obstinate. I can understand the frustration of a packed house, but that's no reason to be rude towards your fellow fans. Everyone is just trying to enjoy the music, folks.

All in all, this was one of those weekends that the attendees will never forget and that the people who missed out will always wish they had been there.

Dive Bars in New Orleans - Part I

Here are some of my favorite dive bars listed by area. I'm sure, as I find more, the list will grow.

Uptown/Riverbend:
Snake n' Jakes Christmas Club Lounge
Crowd: Hemingway-loving hipsters, casual alcoholics, crazy neighborhood regulars
Decor/Interior: What was once an old tractor shed is now the grungiest bar in the city. No windows, a few couches and tables strewn around.
Good to know: Open until at least sunrise on weekdays, don't bother showing up before 2AM, no one but the bartender will be there.

Roberts

Crowd: All local, most live within walking distance

Decor/Interior: Basic squeaky barstools and a few tables across from the bar.

Good to Know: If I remember right there's free pool/ping pong, although the pool table has a definite lean.

Uptown/Garden District:
The Club Ms. Mae's

Crowd: Severe alcoholics, party animals, and people going to or coming from a show at Tip's down the street.

Decor/Interior: Grime and spilled drinks, a pool table and air hockey table, a jukebox that almost exclusively plays metal.

Good to Know: Due to changed ownership, the drink prices are now $2- single well drinks, $3 - double well drinks, $3-5 Call, $4-7 Premium. Open 24/7 365 days a year

Mayfair

Crowd:All ages and sizes.

Decor/Interior: Wire mattress springs hang on the ceilings with barbies and other random objects stuck in them, two pool tables, places to sit at the bar and at tables.

Good to Know:You have to be buzzed into the bar, so don't feel rejected by a locked door.

Brother's Three Lounge

Crowd: Seedy - off duty strip club managers, bartenders and other rabble

Decor/Interior: Shotgun style setup, bar and barstools in the front and a pool table in the back.

Good to Know: It's a good getaway from Magazine St's more pretentious establishments.

Milan Lounge

Crowd: Cubs fans and dart players

Decor/Interior: Nice bar and a few tables but it gets packed easily.

Good to Know: Don't order beer on tap. I don't think those pipes have been cleaned in years.

The King Pin Bar

Crowd: Local kids, lots of piercings and tats

Decor/Interior: Sweet music art, pretty nice bar, clean bathrooms for the ladies

Good to Know: It's a quieter place, so it's great for conversation/relaxed drinking

Lower Garden District/CBD:
The Saint Bar & Lounge

Crowd: Used to be a little seedier, now it's mostly kids under thirty

Decor/Interior: Patio out back, decent bar area with a few tables.

Good to Know: Great jukebox selection and a working photo booth across from the bar. Also, last time I was there I was shooting moonshine, so if you're into that kind of thing...

The Bridge Lounge

Crowd: Loyal neighbors and kids under the age of 35

Decor/Interior: Classic bar setup with a large area with plenty of seating

Good to Know: The bar is always way too packed on Tuesdays for trivia night.