Rock Some Jingle Bells

Though it is hard to believe, ‘tis the season already. We don’t have kids around anymore, but there are plenty of people who do, so it is worth mentioning some great holiday events around town, and the food that accompanies them or is near them.

This is on my mind because we just spent a marvelous weekend with our family in New Orleans, with a home base at the Windsor Court. We didn’t get to all the holiday attractions, but the ones we did made me realize these are special and worth noting.

Anyone who has kids or grandkids, or both, should definitely head to Storyland at 6pm any Thursday through Sunday this month. This iconic treasure has undergone some upgrades and it has never looked better. My son remarked that his favorite dragon slide was sponsored by Morris Bart. My response was thank you to Morris Bart and the other prominent residents of the city who have given some of their treasure to this most worthy cause to benefit future generations.

The whole place looked great, with expanded rides, a s’mores and hot chocolate feature in the space that used to be the antique cars, and lights everywhere. Christmas music filled the air, and it was all so festive! I felt privileged to have it here. A $35 ticket includes Storyland and the rides, plus the Botanical Gardens. The four-hour time frame isn’t enough for all of this, so the pizza shack that crafts mediocre pizza while you wait may have to suffice. But a short stop before the fun is possible. Ralph’s On The Park has Happy Hour weekdays from 4-6pm with the usual great prices on beer, wine and spirits, and a nice menu of bar food, offering a Wagyu Smashburger, Crispy Oysters, Truffle Fries, a Beef Debris Tartine, and the famous signature Shrimp Skully. Certainly enough here to send you off in a great mood for an evening of holiday fun.

We couldn’t make it to the lobby at The Roosevelt on our weekend with the kids, but you certainly should. We will go alone because it is such a wonderful tradition. In the past, we have so enjoyed a Christmas Symphony performance and a walk across the street through the lights to Domenica. The whole area is practically electric. The LPO offers Handel’s Messiah, and this year will perform the music for Elf at The Saenger. None of these take place on a Monday, when you can stop in for Carl’s Famous Fried Chicken, the family-style feast of spicy fried chicken, biscuits with honey, coleslaw, and baked beans. We will definitely do that sometime this season with another pass-through for the lights.

We will not have the Teddy Bear Tea at The Roosevelt, because that would just be silly without kids. But we did do it years ago with the kids, and it is a fun tradition.

We stayed at The Windsor Court last weekend and spent a good bit of time in the lobby watching the train go around the gorgeous Christmas tree. Just walking through the beautifully decorated lobby made me happy. There were lights and garlands everywhere, and poinsettias galore. Every time we passed through the lobby, it seemed a new holiday tea was getting underway.

But if tea is not your thing, there is The Grill Room for dinner or the more affordable plate lunch special of a meat and three sides. Still a great deal at $28, no matter the name. 

And a leisurely afternoon of drinks and a burger in the Polo Lounge is always worthwhile, but especially during this holiday season. We spent New Year’s Eve there a few years ago.

There are a few places that have breakfast with Santa around town, like the Court of Two Sisters. And some gingerbread house-making classes (Ritz Carlton and The Roosevelt)

The one thing we forgot to do with the kids that we always did with ours was the mall train. It is completely off my radar since I can’t remember the last time I was in any mall. But I am told it is as good as ever. It would have been fun to walk down to Williams-Sonoma and see all the Christmas-themed items and smell the smells of Christmas, but I am told it is no more. (That one really hurts.)

There is A Tavolo down at that end of the mall, and it’s perfect for kids. Their Happy Hour of half-price pizza is great. Nice place too. This is our favorite of the Creole Cuisine brand, with the possible exception of Broussard’s.

From there it is a short ride to the Lafreniere Park rides, but not until you pass the house on West Esplanade a block or two east of Causeway. And then it’s off to bed to dream of Sugar Plum fairies and St, Nick. Bellies full, of course. Merry Christmas!