Tag: new orleans

Experience New Orleans

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle2 Comments

I love New Orleans. It was my first high school Spring Break trip, my first college experience. It didn’t last long, but that’s another story. I visit New Orleans at least once per year and it never gets old. Whether you stay out near the airport or in the heart of party city, no two trips to New Orleans will ever be the same.

Airport Stay

Images provided by Mike from Mandeville via Trover.com.

New Orleans is an easy city to get to and once you land, you are inundated with the feel of the landscape. Near the airport, check in to the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Airport. It’s about 15 minutes from downtown. Lake Pontchartrain is in your backyard. If you like bridges, water, or Guinness Book of World Records stuff, take a drive on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, the 23.83-mile road over the lake.

Real World

If New Orleans is fantasy land, Metairie is the real world. Located 8 minutes outside of New Orleans, the Sheraton Metairie – New Orleans Hotel is a beautiful modern property and a great base to experience all the region has to offer. When the weather is good, check out the hotel’s rooftop pool. It’s close to shopping and dining and if you are a gambler, the casino is not far away.

Conventions and Meetings

Every year, hundreds of companies converge onto New Orleans under the guise of a convention or annual sales meeting. To further legitimize the company-wide “meeting,” they stay at hotels such as the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center. It even has it in the name. The hotel is reasonably priced for its location. It’s close to the St. Charles Street Car Line, the Aquarium and the famous River Walk with its views of the Mississippi River.

The Party

Images provided by JP Thompson via Trover.com.

If you show no qualms about getting your party on, book a stay in the French Quarter. The Hyatt French Quarter on Iberville Avenue is a block off Bourbon Street and close to jazz clubs, lounges, and restaurants, including my favorite, the Quarter, Acme Oyster Bar. The unique location pulses with the energy of the French Quarter and offers easy access to downtown and the Garden District. The historic hotel offers a modern and elegant decor. The courtyard is a beautiful space to hold an elegant wedding or host a cool party.

The Heart

Image provided by Francis Petitclerc via Trover.com.

If southern Louisiana is a body, then the famous Bourbon Street is the heart. You haven’t partied unless you’ve partied on Bourbon Street. Bourbon Orleans Hotel is in the center of the action. The hotel looks and feels like New Orleans. If you’re lucky enough to visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras, make sure and get a room with a balcony. You can watch the craziness at a safe distance.

New Orleans remains one of my favorite places in the world. Each visit offers a new experience.

 

Have you been to New Orleans? What’s your favorite part of town? 

F-French Quarter

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle8 Comments

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I lived in New Orleans for two years. It’s one of those cities that great to visit but hard to live in, especially if you have obligations like a school or a job.

It remains one of my favorite places on earth.

Anxious Love will be the first of many (I hope) novels set in New Orleans. The city is a character in itself and it main character trait is found in the French Quarter.

Depositphotos_40084997_s-2015Top 5 coolest things to do in the French Quarter:

  1. People watch in Jackson Square.
  2. Eat at Acme Oyster House.
  3. Ride the river front street car down the Mississippi River.
  4. Listen to jazz at the Preservation Hall.
  5. Take a book tour and see where Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote wrote.

This list could have been 100 items long. These are just the highlights.

Have you been to New Orleans? 

U – Uncle Julio’s

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

a-to-z-letters-uWhen you come to visit Dallas, you have to have dinner at a locals approved Tex-Mex restaurant. There are only a few on the list, but Uncle Julio’s is one of the best.

When ever I came home from overseas to visit, after a 16 hour plane ride, I stopped to have Mexican food first. It is that good.

I love the food so much, I have write about it often.  Here is a scene from one of my novel length projects:

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I’m Coming Home – All you need to fall in love is great food, margaritas and easy conversation. 
They both ordered fajitas.  Chicken for Sierra and steak for John.  The good food and margaritas made the conversation flow easy. 
“Where did you go to school after Loyola in New Orleans?” John asked.
“Florida State.” Sierra said.
“Party school.” 
“I was all partied out before I even got there,” Sierra said. 
“I couldn’t image going to school in New Orleans.”
“Then I went to Georgetown Law.”
“I don’t quite understand,” John took a bit of his fajita, paused to savior it and lost his train of thought.
“What don’t you understand?”
“Oh, yeah, this is so good.” he wiped his mouth with a napkin and appeared be contemplate his next sentence.  Sierra knew what he was going to ask.
“Ivy League law school and you work as a manager of a golf academy.” 
“Is that a question?” Sydney tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice.  
“I don’t mean anything by it, I am just curious how you got there?” 
“I run a golf Academy in a foreign country.  I generated over a million dollars in revenue. I am American who obtained a business license in China.” Sierra hoped she sounded confident.  
“You trying to impress me?” John asked. 
“Maybe. I don’t mean to sound defensive,” Sierra placed her hands in her lap,  “It just I’m not as impressed with my credentials as I probably should be.”
“Why?”
“Because, it’s not what I want to do anymore.” It’s the first time Sierra had said that out loud. 
“What do you want to be doing?” John asked. 
“Dream job?” 
“Yeah.” 
“A writer.” Sydney said. 
“Really,” John said.  “What do you write?”
“Contemporary romance.  Romantic comedies.” 
“Let me read something?” John asked. 
“Not a chance.” Sierra said and continued to make her fajita. Placing the chicken, cheese, sour cream, beans and guacamole on the flour tortilla in the correct order. 
“Come on.” John said. “I enjoy a good romantic comedy.” 
“Do you love your job?” Sydney asked. 
“Changing the subject, I see. Yeah, I get to solve problems all day that only 1% of the world can even comprehend.” John said. 
“What do you do exactly?” Sydney said. “I know you are ‘revamping the whole social media platform’ but was does that mean?” 
“That is actually about 1/4 of what I do, but Bob likes to think he a social media pioneer.” John explained. “I create the internet presence for Zurich.”
“That’s cool.” 
“And, I am in charge of keeping it all safe.” John said. 
“You trying to impress me?” Sydney asked.
“Is it working?” 
“Yes.”
“Good.”
 

Who has actually had Tex-Mex food?  I don’t have to tell you there is a difference between, Mexican Food, Spanish Food and Tex-Mex Food.

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My Weekly Update – Short

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle9 Comments

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Dinner at NOLA in New Orleans – got to love Emeril Lagasse.

Spent the day at the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival.

I will update you all on the conference and my trip at a later date. It was an enlightening experience on so many levels.

Next Weeks Schedule
Monday – Alex Cavanaugh Guest Post
Tuesday – Tattoo Tuesday with Colette Saucier
Wednesday – Misha Gericke Guest Post
Thursday – Mark Means Guest Post
Friday – EM Castellan Guest Post

Happy Birthday to Tameri Etherton next Friday.
Happy Easter to everyone next Sunday.
I have guest posts scheduled for the rest of the week. Hope you enjoy and I will be back on April 1, 2013 for the start of the A to Z Challenge.

Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle16 Comments

My blog schedule this week has been turned upside down. I can’t believe I almost forgot about IWSG.

As always, we have Alex J. Cavanaugh to thank for gathering like minded writers together to vent and support.  This month, we also need to thank Misha Gericke and Joylene Nowell Butler.  Even a Ninja Captain needs some help every once in awhile. 

InsecureWritersSupportGroupMy goal this month with IWSG is to stave off some future insecurities.  As I mentioned before, I’m attending a few writer’s conferences this year. The first one is March 22-25, the Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival.  There is this great session about using the city of New Orleans as the setting in your novel.  Since, my first novel is set in New Orleans, I can’t wait.

Here’s were I need help.  I’ve been thinking about how to introduce myself.   I was thinking something like, “Hi, my name is Sydney, I write romantic comedies are you a writer/agent/publisher/editor/reader/blogger?” Then depending on their answer, the conversation will continue accordingly?

I am joking. I want to leave an impression somewhere between “let’s give her a 100,000.00 advance today” and “Did you hear about that girl Sydney? Stay away from her.”

What is the best way to introduce yourself at these event? 

Btw, check out my new business cards. Suggestions welcomed. I haven’t gone to print, yet.

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