Entertainment/Travel -How to plan your 2013 Essence Music Festival trip
Hey Urban babies....I have been so busy, that I haven't had a chance to update my page in over a month!!!! My full time job has been keeping me busy. Well, I want to share some great information with you and your friends. Have you heard of the Essence Music Festival...well if you haven't let me fill you in.
It's an annual music festival that takes place every July 4th weekend in New Orleans. For over 15 years Essence magazine has put on a 3 day event which main focus is music, but also includes free conferences during the day. So you would attend the free conferences at the Convention Center during the day and head over to the Superdome at night to listen to all the wonderful entertainers performing for that evening. The EMF has been known to bring out the big names like Beyonce, Ne-Yo, and Trey Songz to name a few. As well as some up and coming folks like Teedra Moses, Raheem Devaughn, and many other. So let me help you plan your trip with these few pointers.
1. Go to www.essence.com/festival#&panel2-1 and click on the festival link at the top right.
2. Choose your hotel...NOW!!! You will not find better rates than the ones listed on the hotels link. You will have to pay the full price at time of reserving your room. I recommend staying in the "Quarta" (French Quarter) if you want to be near Bourbon St. Note you will walk everywhere, so be prepared for that. I've stayed at Hotel Monteleone and I've had friends who stayed at The Windsor Court. Both are quality hotels, but if you really want to rub elbows with the stars, stay at the Windsor Court. 4+star hotel....you will not be disappointed.
3. Book your flight. The festival runs from July 4-7th, and I recommend arriving a day or two before and leaving a day after. Just trust me on this one. I DO NOT recommend getting a rental car, just take a shuttle from the airport or arrange for a car service to pickup/drop off you and your friends.
4. If this is your first time going to the EMF, I recommend going to all the concerts. That is a separate purchase from your hotel and flight. They have different price point for everyone (but your best bet is the 1 or 2nd mezzanine level seats).
5. Eat some great food!!!! Baby, if you have never had food from Louisana, you are in for a treat. Now, please keep in mind this is going to be a VERY BUSY time in N.O for EMF so be prepared for a wait, but its all worth it. Some places you MUST eat at are:
a. Acme Oyster House (http://www.acmeoyster.com) for some of the best po boys and fresh oysters.
b. Deanie's Seafood (http://www.deanies.com) ...for all things fried seafood.
c. Bourbon House (www.bourbonhouse.com) restaurant has finer dining, to go along with the price. However, the food is worth it.
d. Mother's (www.mothersrestaurant.net/) for breakfast...I have yet to go because it stays packed during the entire wkend.
e. Cafe Du Monde (http://www.cafedumonde.com/) for the BEST beignets I have ever had. Don't do like I did the first time I went and ask for a fork...you will get a crazy look. You just pick them up with your hands and eat them.
Some other great and famous places to check out are Emeril's (http://www.emerilsrestaurants.com/emerils-new-orleans) which I would recommend making reservations. A New Orleans local favorite and apart of N.O history, Dookie Chase (http://www.dookychaserestaurant.com) to get you soul food fix.
6. Last but not least, get out and take one of many tours. From a gator tour to a voodoo tour. You will learn about some great N.O history as well as some fun facts about the great city. Walk around the city by yourself and soak some scenery while you sip on a world famous daiquiri from one of the many Daiquiri shops.
I hope I have helped make things a little easier for you on your upcoming trip to New Orleans now or in the future. These great tips are good during any time of your year you choose to visit N.O. Until next time, Stay Fabulous!!!!
It's an annual music festival that takes place every July 4th weekend in New Orleans. For over 15 years Essence magazine has put on a 3 day event which main focus is music, but also includes free conferences during the day. So you would attend the free conferences at the Convention Center during the day and head over to the Superdome at night to listen to all the wonderful entertainers performing for that evening. The EMF has been known to bring out the big names like Beyonce, Ne-Yo, and Trey Songz to name a few. As well as some up and coming folks like Teedra Moses, Raheem Devaughn, and many other. So let me help you plan your trip with these few pointers.
1. Go to www.essence.com/festival#&panel2-1 and click on the festival link at the top right.
2. Choose your hotel...NOW!!! You will not find better rates than the ones listed on the hotels link. You will have to pay the full price at time of reserving your room. I recommend staying in the "Quarta" (French Quarter) if you want to be near Bourbon St. Note you will walk everywhere, so be prepared for that. I've stayed at Hotel Monteleone and I've had friends who stayed at The Windsor Court. Both are quality hotels, but if you really want to rub elbows with the stars, stay at the Windsor Court. 4+star hotel....you will not be disappointed.
3. Book your flight. The festival runs from July 4-7th, and I recommend arriving a day or two before and leaving a day after. Just trust me on this one. I DO NOT recommend getting a rental car, just take a shuttle from the airport or arrange for a car service to pickup/drop off you and your friends.
4. If this is your first time going to the EMF, I recommend going to all the concerts. That is a separate purchase from your hotel and flight. They have different price point for everyone (but your best bet is the 1 or 2nd mezzanine level seats).
5. Eat some great food!!!! Baby, if you have never had food from Louisana, you are in for a treat. Now, please keep in mind this is going to be a VERY BUSY time in N.O for EMF so be prepared for a wait, but its all worth it. Some places you MUST eat at are:
a. Acme Oyster House (http://www.acmeoyster.com) for some of the best po boys and fresh oysters.
b. Deanie's Seafood (http://www.deanies.com) ...for all things fried seafood.
c. Bourbon House (www.bourbonhouse.com) restaurant has finer dining, to go along with the price. However, the food is worth it.
d. Mother's (www.mothersrestaurant.net/) for breakfast...I have yet to go because it stays packed during the entire wkend.
e. Cafe Du Monde (http://www.cafedumonde.com/) for the BEST beignets I have ever had. Don't do like I did the first time I went and ask for a fork...you will get a crazy look. You just pick them up with your hands and eat them.
Some other great and famous places to check out are Emeril's (http://www.emerilsrestaurants.com/emerils-new-orleans) which I would recommend making reservations. A New Orleans local favorite and apart of N.O history, Dookie Chase (http://www.dookychaserestaurant.com) to get you soul food fix.
6. Last but not least, get out and take one of many tours. From a gator tour to a voodoo tour. You will learn about some great N.O history as well as some fun facts about the great city. Walk around the city by yourself and soak some scenery while you sip on a world famous daiquiri from one of the many Daiquiri shops.
I hope I have helped make things a little easier for you on your upcoming trip to New Orleans now or in the future. These great tips are good during any time of your year you choose to visit N.O. Until next time, Stay Fabulous!!!!
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