"Frenchmen Street" - Original Oil Painting



 

We fist discovered Frenchmen Street in February of 2006 (the Winter after Hurricane Katrina).  At that unfortunate time, the French Quarter was still pretty deserted, and someone told us to take a short walk into the neighborhood of Marigny if we wanted to hear some good local music.

 

Our spirits were uplifted the minuted we arrived at the small three block business district!  The street was a little dark; but lights, music and laughter spilled out onto the sidewalk from crowded small clubs.  That night we became fans of Cafe Negril, Snug Harbor, The Spotted Cat, and DBA, where the music ranged from jazz, to reggae to funk.

 

Since that time, Frenchmen street is the place we go to the most, and now we're acquainted with Adolfo's Italian Creole restaurant (above the Apple Barrel) and the atmospheric Frenchmen Hotel with its cozy, lush courtyard and balcony views.  And, we've added new music clubs like the Blue Nile, and Maison to our list of favorites.  We go back time after time to see our favorite musicians, KermitRuffins and the TBC Brass Band.  I still can't get over the fact that you can hear some of the country's best music in such small intimate clubs! 

 

Frenchmen Street is a real everyday street with a grocery, a book store, a fire station, a record store, and a coffee shop, but it's also a concentrated spot of local culture will soon hit its prime.  I just hope it doesn't lose its friendly neighborhood feeling where visitors can go and experience the real New Orleans.

 

To see more of my original New Orleans art visit: 

www.neworleans-art.net