STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

LSUbatgirl should be able to help you some with this since she lives around there =).  It is usually pretty humid so it feels warmer than it actually is.  I wore jeans and tank tops when I was there last and that was in january.  As far as where to shop I would check out Magazine St.  It has some very cool stores including an awesome jean store if you need jeans.

I'll be there this weekend too! Hmm what area are you going to be in and what are you planning on doing? I was there Fri and Sat of this past weekend too. Friday was in the 80s so I wore jeans and a sweet pea tank and was fine (I could have worn a skirt). Sat was rainy and breezy but I was ok in a tank and jeans.  I think the weather was in the 70s.

If its in the 70s or 80s and no rain is predicted then you can easily go with jeans, capris, or skirts and short sleeves or tanks. The cardigan idea would be fine.

Now for stores it really depends on where you are going to be and what you are interested in.  The french market is fun and has lots of jewelry at decent prices and knock off purses if you are interested in that. There are boutiques all over in the quarter- usually on Chartes street or royal. There is also one in Jackson Square called Jackies which is pretty cool.  Lush just opened up on Decatur which is the same street that has UO, FCUK, Virgin, Tower, etc.

Palace Cafe on Canal has a great banana's foster dessert (and white chocolate bread pudding from what I hear). I don't really have a favorite restaurant in the area (lots of theme restaurants with ok food and hit or miss service). The last time I went to Hard Rock the service was terrible.  I went to Bubba Gump this weekend and it was decent food, ok service but not worth the wait.  Maragaritaville has good food, House of blues is over priced for what it is IMO.

Magazine Street has a ton of cute little Boutiques.  I'm going to try to go over there Sat morning if I have time. I've never been in most of them but they all have great displays and a few were advertising sales. They have a food place called Juan's Flying Burrito that is good if you like mexican. there is another one on magazine further down called Taquira Corona or something like that that my bf loves.  Its usually closed when we try to go.  Whole foods is also on Magazine if you've never been (good food). The jean store is called Jean Therapy and there is one in the Lakeside mall also. (I'm thinking there is one in the French quarter now too but not 100% sure). There is another store though in the FQ that sells a ton of jeans on Chartes but I can't remember the name Hemline maybe? I have it at home also for sure.  Its a chain of 5 stores all along the same street.

Oh if you are on Chartes go to 400 Chartes Street (don't know the name of the place- just the address) but they sell the best belgium chocolates! You have got to stop in!

your packing sounds good. Not sure about flip flops on bourbon though.  I mean you could do it...I have before.  I think it would be ok now since there isn't anything like mardi gras going on so it shouldn't be too dirty.  I have cheapo target xhileration mule type shoes I wear all the time since they are like flip flops but on a platform so I'm not dragging pants in the street. Just don't walk too close to the street and the curb (where they meet) since that is where the puddles and trash collect.

Take the street car down to the french quarter and save the money on parking if you can (not sure how late they run though). I think you can do a $5 all day pass for the street car and you can just ride the st. charles one down to canal and walk across the street to the french quarter. There is also the canal street car which can take you from the french market all the way to city park or the cemetaries if you want to see them.

Oh you can definetly skip the riverwalk.  Its very touristy (trinket shops) and has some standard mall stores like gap and the limited.

Well if its during the day flip flops are fine.  Bourbon only gets dirty at night when people are out.  Just don't go out in flip flops you know.  Otherwise just wear them around while you shop.

Well its not fancy there so jeans are fine.  I typically wear jeans & a tshirt-ish shirt (you know fitted tee) and some mule type shoes because they have a heel and I'm not dragging on the ground.  People wear all sorts of things though so you can really go with whatever you want.  Like I said before though don't do flip flops because of the grime on the floor & incase your toes get stepped on. Ask me wed how the weather is so I can update you with our forecast.  Also pm prissy about stuff I might be missing since she lives down there too.