Dance Travel News Goes to New Orleans

If you’re “in the mood” for swing era big band music, “I’ll be seeing you” at the Dine and Dance to the Victory Swing Orchestra in BB’s Stage Door Canteen at the World War II Museum in New Orleans. A three-course dinner with wine and 90 minutes of dancing to a full orchestra with 3 singer soloists made for a wonderful evening during our trip this past October. Dancing was the reason we headed to NOLA and we’ll be back again in 2024 for one of these delightful tributes to the 1940’s Big Bands at the museum. A Valentine’s Day dance will be held on February 17^th (not to compete with Mardi Gras parades) and another evening will be on June 1. (See schedule/buy tickets at https://www.nationalww2museum.org/programs/dine-dance-victory-swing-orchestra). Before the end of this year there are also luncheons and teas in 2023 and a New Year’s Eve Dine and Dance (https://www.nationalww2museum.org/events-programs/bbs-stage-door-canteen).

We danced from night one and every night during our trip. Four nights in a row we headed to the Ritz Carlton where Jeremy Davenport @thejeremydavenport on trumpet and his band perform Wednesdays through Saturdays in his namesake lounge. Did he notice that John and I danced a foxtrot to our song “Sunny Side of the Street” and that’s why he played it every night we were there? Other songs gave us a rumba, swing, cha cha and even a West Coast swing. We got complimented on our dancing but we weren’t the best or worst. Another couple took over the floor one night with an expansive blues-y dance and Balboa. There were also the ladies who danced with each other while holding their martinis thinking they could dance and not spill. We stayed away from their side of the floor.

On Frenchmen Street at the Maison singer Jenavieve Cooke @jenavieve.cooke of Jenavieve Cooke and the Winding Boys encouraged listeners to dance and we obliged with a West Coast swing at our back table. We next poked our head in at The Spotted Cat, d.b.a and Snug Harbor before heading back to the no cover Maison for Higher Heights Reggae Band.

Is a 10 pm set too late for you? The 4 – 7 pm Nickel a Dance free program is offered each spring and fall on Sunday afternoons. We just missed Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers @ruffinsbbq on the Sunday we headed over to Frenchmen Street.

What to do in New Orleans during the day til it’s time to dance?

Get out on the water:

Paddle wheeler riverboat “The City of New Orleans” – We did the two-hour daytime cruise without the lunch option, as boarding was at 11:30 and breakfast was barely digested. Plus we didn’t want to spend any time inside in the dining room, having staked our claim on the deck in a shady spot as we listened to the narrator point out sites along the Mississippi River banks. https://www.steamboatnatchez.com/riverboat-city-of-new-orleans

Swamp Tour – We chose the Louisiana Tour Company among several offering hotel pick up for the 30-minute ride to the Barataria swamp. On our almost two-hour boat ride we came upon a few places where we saw alligators in the water – trained to approach for their marshmallow snack – and then there was the one on the boat, a baby alligator our guide brought to pass around on board. https://louisianaswamp.com/tours/swamp-tours-by-tour-boat/

Visit little museums:

Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture – We arrived at 2 pm in time for the lively presentation and tour by founder Carl Mack. His interactive talk had us practicing the parade watchers’ chant “Throw me something, mister” just in time for that evening’s Krewe of Boo Halloween parade. If you’re so inclined you can visit the costume closet room for your selfies. http://www.themardigrasmuseum.com/

Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience – Shalom Y’All. Start with the introductory movie. Don’t miss the Mardi Gras Bagel. https://msje.org/

The Historic New Orleans Collection – This free museum in the French Quarter recently opened and has a permanent collection and rotating exhibits https://www.hnoc.org/

Museum of Death – Serial killers are the least of it. https://www.neworleans.com/listing/museum-of-death/37175/

Enjoy the local specialties:

Sazerac – the official cocktail of New Orleans – and perhaps the oldest cocktail in America – which we enjoyed at the art deco Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/msyrhwa-the-roosevelt-new-orleans/dining/?SEO_id=GMB–R-MSYRHWA-2&y_source=1_MjY1ODkzOTYtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D

Seafood Gumbo – a stand out at M Bistro in the Ritz Carlton Hotel. And convenient to dine here, adjacent to the Davenport Lounge for after dinner dancing. https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/msyrz-the-ritz-carlton-new-orleans/dining/

White Chocolate Bread Pudding and Bourbon Pecan Pie – dessert is included in the 3 course $55 menu at the Pelican Club. We got the BBQ head-on shrimp, Louisiana Cioppino and Duck 3 ways at this excellent Creole restaurant. https://www.pelicanclub.com/menu/dinner-menu

More Recommended Dining Experiences at NOLA Restaurants:

Dine on a Balcony- Café Sbisa across from the French Market is ideal for brunch https://cafesbisanola.com/

Dine in a Best Restaurant in New Orleans – from The New York Times list https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/16/dining/best-restaurants-new-orleans.html the Chef Donald Link restaurant Peche was our first choice. https://www.pecherestaurant.com/

Splurge on a Cocktail – At $35 the “Trippin in the Graveyard” was a great start to our meal at Jewel of the South https://www.jewelnola.com/

A Quiet Oasis in the French Quarter – Casual fine dining in a Creole cottage, white tablecloths and a courtyard at Bayona on Dauphine Street https://www.bayona.com/

No wonder we came home 5 pounds heavier and humming “Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans.” Til next time.

The Dine & Dance event takes place several times a year at the National WWII Museum featuring the big band Victory Swing Orchestra and soloists.

Jeremy Davenport and his band perform Wednesday through Saturday night at the Ritz Carlton, New Orleans

Jeremy Davenport at his namesake lounge at the Ritz Carlton

Maison on Frenchmen Street for live jazz every evening

City of New Orleans riverboat departs daily from the French Quarter for sightseeing, lunch, Sunday Brunch, and Dinner Jazz cruises down the Mississippi River