I am staying at the Magnolia Mansion in Garden District of New Orleans. Today we’re going to look at some of the historic houses and buildings in the Garden District and eat some food. Fortunately it’s crawfish season!

I have my car parked at the Mansion but for the most part we’re going to be staying within a few blocks so I’m going out on foot..

One of my favorite breakfast places is four blocks away, District Donuts.

It’s just after Mardi Gras so there’s a lot of this around.

This is District Donuts. I believe that outdoor seating came from an old streetcar.

 

 

I actually ate here two mornings. This morning I got a coffee, a bananas foster donut, and a honey butter chicken biscuit.

 

 

The other morning I got a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit.

They’re filming a movie at this house I’m passing.

 

Speaking of films. This is where the Benjamin Button movie was filmed.

 

 

This is Commanders Palace. It’s one of THE places to eat in New Orleans. This is where Emeril started as a chef. Paul Prudhomme was chef here before Emeril.

Across the street from Commander’s Palace is Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. A lot of movies and TV shows have filmed here. The one I think about the most is Double Jeopardy with Tommy Lee Jones and Ashley Judd. It’s locked up right now. I read they’re doing some renovations.

 

 

If you want to be buried in soil here in New Orleans, this is how it’s done.

This is better than your standard electric box graffiti.

 

This house was seized during the civil war and used as a governor’s mansion. It’s said that Colonel Short’s wife was from Iowa and missed the cornstalks so he had a cornstalk fence installed.

 

 

 

The Rink was originally built as an ice skating rink for the 1884 worlds fair. Now it contains shops and offices.

 

 

Like I said carnival season (Mardi Gras) just wrapped up around here.

 

The Briggs-Staub House.

 

This is the former Our Lady of Perpetual Help chapel. It was first purchased by “Interview with a Vampire” author Anne Rice. Then by Nicholas Cage.

The ”Romeo spikes” on the balconies were to prevent boys from climbing into girls rooms.

 

Across the street is the Women’s Opera Guild house. It is available for afternoon tours. The house was used in the movie “Django Unchained.”

 

 

Toby’s corner. The oldest house in the Garden District–1838. The fountain is made from a sugar kettle.

 

 

The Johnson House, built in 1872, is now McGehee school for girls.

The Manning House. This is where Peyton, Eli, and Cooper Manning grew up.

 

Morris Israel house. This is the house the Disney Land haunted mansion was based on.

 

The former primary residence of “Interview with a Vampire” author Anne Rice. This fence is believed to be one of the first chain link designs in the world. Do you see strawberries or skulls?

 

 

Jefferson Davis died in this house in 1889.

This is John Goodman’s house. It looks like he either had or is having a big party. There’s a huge tent in the back with tables and place settings.

 

 

The Robinson house. The flat roof was used to collect rain water for the plumbing and drinking water.

 

 

This is Sandra Bullock’s house.

 

 

I’m heading to Tracey’s on Magazine Street for some crawfish.

 

 

It’s a 20 minute wait for crawfish. I’m going to grab a bloody mary at the bar.

 

 

He ran out of crawfish again while I was drinking that. I’m switching to beer and getting in line so I don’t get left out next time.

Crawfish, corn, potatoes, mushrooms, and Zony Mash King Cake Stout.

Crawfish season technically starts sometime in January and ends in June. I always think of it more like President’s Day to Mother’s Day or Memorial Day because as a kid those would be our first and last boils.

 

That was good!

I need to rest up after that. Next time we’re going barhopping in the Garden District, Irish Channel, and French Quarter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• New Orleans