<p>It has been 3 years since I have eaten at Jacques Imo’s. Too many choices to eat at the same place more than once every few years! Except, of course, for the obligatory breakfast or lunch at Camillia Grill. So if Jacques Imo’s has gone down some in that time, it would be a shame, but then maybe Dante’s is the better choice.</p>
<p>I guess I was just leaning toward Jacques Imos due to the location… Oak Street is kind of a little touristy/unique shop area?? Bummer to hear its not as wonderful as before…but then again Ive never been so I wouldnt know the difference :)</p>
<p>I rented a car…I read a thread where “dodgy” cab rides were mentioned…that quite honestly makes me leary. When I travel I either rent a car or use a very familiar to me car service. I did want to be carless in New Orleans due to the fact that my daughter will never be a driver and Im still questioning my rental decision because I wanted a reality check re public transpo for her, but I know she would have use of the Tulane buses (which are a huge plus) with her situation. I printed directions and maps to all destinations…It doesnt seem bad, but parking may be :(</p>
<p>Honestly, we’ve been going to New Orleans for 20 years and have never had a bad experience with United.</p>
<p>and yes parking can be a nightmare, You can’t really park on the streets in the French Quarter, its permit parking in most areas. As I said, in 20 years we have only rented a car once and that was to drive out to the plantations. My friends that live there usually leave their cars home and use public transportation when heading to the FQ.</p>
<p>I have to completely second what dolphnlvr is saying. I have been going to New Orleans for even longer and also have never had an issue with the taxi people. In fact some have been spectacular to talk with. And interestingly I have also rented a car (minivan actually) only once, when we had a large number of family members in one trip. Not only is parking a hassle, but taking the streetcar (and cabs) is just so much nicer of a way to see the city, IMO.</p>
<p>Crud…</p>
<p>thanks for the info tho…</p>
<p>Well, to be fair there are others that have posted here before that almost always rent a car and insist they prefer that. So I guess it just depends on your style and preferences. Don’t overthink it, you will have a great time either way.</p>
<p>Well we always drive because the 5.5 hour drive is shorter and less expensive than flying. The only driving we do once we get there might be between Tulane and our hotel. Any sightseeing we do is usually walking or taking the streetcar. I’ve never had a need for a cab. I guess if we flew in, we would do a cab to and from the airport but that would probably be it. We love the streetcars.</p>
<p>Fallenchemist…ha…as it gets closer I am definitely overthinking.</p>
<p>cyclonehome, thanks for sharing your experience.</p>
<p>maybe ill just see how I feel at msy re taxi or car and go from there.</p>
<p>im getting nervous lol</p>
<p>We are back 
We had a wonderful but crazy fast couple days.</p>
<p>Arrived Thursday afternoon…used taxis. Taxied to FQ had beignets at Cafe Du Monde…and the best coffee ever…walked around the area until late dinner at NOLA. Friday Tulane all day. Friday night dinner at Jacques Imo’s…Saturday Magaine Street then flew home. I wish we could have seen more and FQ in daylight.There wasnt alot going on there by the time we arrived Thurs eve.</p>
<p>Tulane…beautiful campus. Very friendly everywhere. Disability office was a real actual office with a waiting room and several people including secretaries vs a closet off the library (as we have seen previously in other schools) We wound up talking for over an hour to a senior working in admin office that had so many similarities to my daughter it was really eye opening and also confirmed a few thoughts I was having regarding college choice. We had a very nice visit. My daughter wound up wanting a school hoodie…thats a first 
And everywhere we went a conversation would come up about we are here to visit Tulane and people would cheer Tulane and say what a great place.</p>
<p>New Orleans…loved it. I found it charming and the people so welcoming and helpful. We counted…we heard 11 life stories in 2 days there Everyone had a tale to tell and all interesting. Really enjoyed the friendliness and openness of the place. </p>
<p>NOLA…omg…FANTASTIC. All the food we had anywhere was…except Jacques Imo’s…waited over 2 hours for so so (in my opinion) food and the place was crazy tight crowded and so noisy we couldnt converse…it was an adventure though. We ate lunch at The Rum House on Magazine St Saturday and it was also delicious…lunch Friday could have been at Tulane but we had a couple hours to kill so we walked down Oak St and found Babylon Cafe…very very yummy but lame service…wrong order…food came sporadically…id go again though because it was good. </p>
<p>Cabs…ugh…not my favorite aspect of a trip to New Orleans. We had an issue Friday night after Jacques Imo’s where we waited 40 min…I called first and she said 10 min…be outside…we froze out there waiting…no cab…then at 25min I called back…apologized…said its busy…she will get one asap…at 40 some really nice girls told us to hop in theirs with them. Im so thankful because we were freezing and it was closing in on 11pm and I was getting really uneasy. </p>
<p>Streetcar super cute but I forgot the track issue so it wasnt so convenient but still enjoyed it.</p>
<p>I thought the area was pretty…the French Quarter charming…I never felt unsafe down there. It was very much unlike how I had it pictured in my head from things id heard. I thought Broadway and Oak were kind of shabby and rundown…then you turn onto St Charles and its a whole different world. Strange…one of the shopkeepers said New Orleans is like a third world country and you dont even need a passport to get here.</p>
<p>Safety…I have mixed feelings. We met soooo many terrific people…saw beautiful things.wonderful Tulane…then u hear the murder rate and see the really rundown stuff…I dont know. I guess I expected to be more definitive in my opinion after seeing for myself…???</p>
<p>And thank you to my fabulous helpers for all your ideas, suggestions, and advice </p>
<p>Sorry separate post…im on my tablet and it started acting wonky…I wanted to post before I lost all I typed…</p>
<p>also…we had planned on the April honors weekend…now not sure…im mot sure the benefit since we were just there…but Tulane is definitely a top contender. My daughter said several times how she thinks this could be the one.</p>
<p>I was disappointed in the tour though…it was similar to Amhurst where we went innothing except the Reilly Center…at Amhurst we only went in their museum…We did see a mock dorm in Patterson. I guess Id hoped to see a classroom or 2, the library, dining hall…maybe another time. </p>
<p>Thanks again, all, for the help :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the detailed report. I think we can now cross Jacques Imo’s off the list for good. Too many say it has gone downhill.</p>
<p>Regarding the murder rate, you should ignore that. Homicides are virtually all localized to a couple of areas miles from campus. The area around campus and throughout the Garden District is much safer, although of course common sense still applies. I guess I never thought of the areas of Broadway and Oak as being shabby, except as in comparison to St. Charles of course. Many of the houses are small and old, so I guess one person’s charming is another person’s shabby.</p>
<p>I think they are hoping the streetcar is back to normal by Mardi Gras.</p>
<p>Bottom line, it sounds like a very successful trip. It will be interesting to see where things go for you from here. Where did you stay again?</p>
<p>Saw your second post. She would see much more and attend some classes if she went for Honors Weekend. It could also help her make up her mind.</p>
<p>I have a lot of friends that live up on and near Oak, never considered it shabby. There has been a lot of improvement in the area the last few years. It’s one of the Up and coming areas of New Orleans.</p>
<p>Forgot to say glad you enjoyed your visit! Honors weekend would give your daughter another chance to see things she didn’t get to this time and you would get to spend more time in the FQ in the daytime!</p>
<p>thanks for the report, ChocoChipMom.</p>
<p>FallenChemist, yes… I agree re one person’s shabby is another’s charming… I am from the Midwest and I LOVE rustic and shabby chic…that’s basically my home and town lol… but I saw broken doors, shutters, peeling paint…lots of dead folliage…garbage (including full hefty bags) and beer bottles on the sidewalk that type of thing. Maybe unkempt is a better word than shabby because I do love charming and quaint antiquey…anything I just (wrong or right) see that lack of care and think poverty, then that leads my mind to crime. The route from MSY took us down Broadway to St Charles and down Broadway I was getting a little cringy inside with what I was seeing… then we turned onto St Charles and I sighed with relief. Beautiful. I did notice when we walked Broadway that that is where the Greek houses are. My daughter, who is visually impaired, even got the run down vibe lol. And I did not comment on it because I tried to stay really neutral, wanting this to be HER decision. I heard her say to her friend that some areas are pretty run down. But it is what it is. I would say it is similar to areas of Hawaii and Caribbean islands. People just have different priorities. Nothing wrong with that. It’s just my Midwest mind set maybe that leads me to think rundown means something it probably does not.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Guest View Park House and enjoyed it. Now that place is CHARMING!! :)</p>
<p>Also re the disabilities, this is a really wonderful thing - we were told that my daughter can fill out an accommodations request form online, send in validation of her disability and she will see what they can approve for her and she can use that to help base her decision on whether or not to go to Tulane or not. The answers to her questions sounded almost too good to be true, but my daughter had ideas of what she “should” hear and what would be negative things to hear as answers… and it was all good and reasonable. </p>
<p>Maybe Jacques Imo’s is just getting too busy… ?? It was so crowded… we looked in shops and talked to people around there but 2+ hours is a long time to wait…there was no room to wait inside. It was nuts but it was also a Friday night. I’d definitely go back to the other three places we ate at, but skip JI and try something else…there’s plenty out there.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Dophin, I am sorry! I don’t mean to be insulting to anyone. I just come from a sheltered small Midwest town so I have ideas in my head from my background and things people have said re New Orleans etc… I cannot even tell you how different I found the French Quarter from what I was expecting based on what people have told me. We loved it, thought it was so cute and the people SO FRIENDLY and nice. Canal St was beautiful and even walked down Bourbon St…but at about 730 lol… I’m sure things got a bit more wild later in the eve… but all good. </p>
<p>People there would say don’t worry about the crime etc, but then they’d be sure to tell us “I wouldn’t walk that at night” or such and close and lock the doors at 7pm with a keypad entry. So I guess I’m still getting mixed info and feelings on what’s safe. Safety is so number 1 with me. I would put my daughter in a bubble on a cloud to live with angels if I could haha… but I know she has a life to live and I want her to experience all she can and enjoy everything possible. She loves history and music and NO is a fantastic place for both of those.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>oh no, I didn’t take it as insulting! I peruse the New Orleans real estate listings all the time and sometimes I’m shocked by how beautiful a home is on the inside but not as nice on the outside. And in NOLA you could be a n very nice street but turn the corner and it’s not so nice. A few years ago I was coming to visit my friend who lived right off of oak and the taxi driver pulls up and says “are you sure you want to get out here?” It was considered a sketchy area. he waited until my friend came out an unlocked the gate for me. It’s improving up there, slowly over time. I have a friend living in the Black Pearl area and for years I was told never go there!</p>
<p>You were definitely not insulting, ChocoChip, and I was not trying to be defensive. I can definitely see how someone would say exactly what you did, I guess I am just used to it. Personal sense of things and all. I will say that as far as the dead foliage, NOLA had a deep freeze of 22 degrees a couple weeks ago, when the more northern climes were having 20 below and all that. Very unusual for NOLA, and there was a lot of damage to the local flora.</p>
<p>I am so glad that the disabilities office was impressive and so helpful. Frankly I had no idea what to expect. I mean I had heard a couple of good outcomes in the past, but no details on the staff and procedures involved. Sounds like Tulane is on top of this.</p>
<p>Thanks…I know its hard to tell tone from posts. We really enjoyed our time there and are really very glad we went. I do wish the visit was a longer one. The thing that just stands out so much is how welcome everyone on and off campus made us feel. Im looking forward to going back and seeing more of everything - and eating more of everything lol…still kicking myself I didnt squeeze some key lime pie in at the Rum House </p>
<p>Park View Guest House was very nice and Id stay there again for sure. I felt like they took care of us and they were very helpful. </p>
<p>Yes, we were impressed with the disabilities office and the lady we met with.I will follow up in the next few weeks with how the accommodations requests go. </p>
<p>:)</p>