Of all the places in the United States associated with non- stop partying and endless entertainment, New Orleans’ French Quarter is arguably at the top of the list. Its reputation as a place of decadence and indulgence is unparalleled and it isn’t surprising that so many people include a visit to Bourbon Street on their personal bucket list. With so many establishments to visit, however, navigating the French Quarter can be quite a chore, but there is a newly published book ready to help. It is called the French Quarter Drinking Companion: A Guide to Bars in America’s Most Eclectic Neighborhood, a book by Allison Alsup, Elizabeth Pearce, and Richard Read.
A Fleur- de- Lis For You and Me
The French Quarter Drinking Companion is a 272- page, eleven chapter guide to New Orleans’ French Quarter and the individual, independently owned and operated drinking and dining establishments that serve the food/drink and keep guest entertained 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. New Orleans famed French Quarter is an area known the world over for its non- stop, never sleep, drink ‘til you drop attitude and it has been the subject of movies, books, and legends galore for decades. The options can get overwhelming, but this guide helps both visitors and locals soak up the French culture and discover the different drinking establishments in a more intimate way.
I have read plenty of travel guides in my day and I have found some very useful ones to which I still turn for reference purposes. But none of them is quite like the French Quarter Drinking Companion and there are many good reasons why. First, this isn’t just another reference guide complete with factual information and little else. This book is, in fact, just as much a reading book as a reference source and it successfully describes each establishment in such a personal, intimate way that you can close your eyes and picture exactly what the authors experienced when they visited each. You feel connected, almost like you were right there, with the authors, secretly shadowing them as they investigated the different French Quarter establishments, conversed with the locals and tourists, sampled different drinks, and got to know each bar inside and out.
I have visited the French Quarter several times and while my memory is a little blurred (surprised?), I do recall some of the bars that I visited and remember that each had its own personality, clientele, theme, etc. This is one of the major appeals of the French Quarter. Each bar is free to create its own theme, entertainment, signature drinks, etc. From bars with live music to neighborhood hangouts, the French Quarter spans a wide range of options and the French Quarter Drinking Companion is very good at capturing these unique personality traits that make each establishment an experience all to itself.
Not Just Another Reference Guide
French Quarter Drinking Companion is useful as a reference guide and when I first discovered this book, I assumed it was just that- a quick reference guidebook describing the different bars, where they were located, what they served, how they looked inside, etc. But after reading a couple of entries, I realized that the French Quarter Drinking Companion is not like other guide books in any way. Yes, the guide does include essential facts like the bar’s address, phone number, web site, average prices, tattoo themes present, and so on. But it then combines this with the creative non- fiction writing talents of the three authors for a book that is more enjoyable and entertaining overall. Each bar receives only about 1 to 2 pages of coverage, but the authors are careful to make sure they cover the important bases in this limited space. Their descriptions of each bar are personal, colorful, and vivid and as you read the useful and often witty remarks about each bar, you finish with a confident feeling. You feel like you know them well enough that you could easily picture each one in your mind and know exactly what to expect if you paid a visit.
The French Quarter Drinking Companion offers some pictures of the 100+ bars contained within, but it doesn’t offer pictures of all of them. I was a little disappointed by this at first, as I wanted to be able to place a specific visual with each experience, but I think the authors intended it this way. After all, there is a certain mystery and intrigue with the French Quarter and offering too many illustrations would limit the imagination. Better to let the reader see pictures of just a few of the spotlighted bars and allow the imagination to take over from there.
Plan a Visit to New Orleans
The French Quarter is, indeed, an eclectic neighborhood; a patchwork of dive bars, local hangouts, tourist traps, and more. The French Quarter Drinking Companion is a very good guide to what many consider the nation’s top party zone and most who read will come away knowing these bars on a much more intimate level than before. It’s much more than just a reference guide and its authors do a fine job conveying the details so that you, the weary tourist or curious local, can find just the right French Quarter establishment for that occasional self- indulgence that each of us craves.
Note: I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading the book
Keep oո writinց, great job!