catwood
Jul 16, 02, 11:22 am
Anyone ever been to Southern Decadence? I was invited to go with one of my friends and I was considering it.
Chris
Chris
GLBT Travelers - Southern Decadence
View Full Version : Southern Decadence
jAAck
Jul 16, 02, 3:37 pm
Chris, it's been a few years (not that many!) since I did Southern Decadence, but it was great fun. There are loads of cute southern boys (maybe the best kind?!) and lots of activities. I've heard it's become very circuitry, but then most of these events have gone that way the past several years. But it sounds like you manage to make fun wherever you go, so I don't think you'll have any trouble there... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif
catwood
Jul 17, 02, 9:31 am
What are you implying jAAck??? hehehe
I'd be interested to hear more feedback.
Chris
I'd be interested to hear more feedback.
Chris
Flyaway
Jul 17, 02, 11:02 am
Excuse my ignorance. What/ where is Southern Dec.?
Morrissey
Jul 17, 02, 5:03 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Flyaway:
Excuse my ignorance. What/ where is Southern Dec.?</font>
Here it is! (http://www.bojangles.com/index2.htm)
Excuse my ignorance. What/ where is Southern Dec.?</font>
Here it is! (http://www.bojangles.com/index2.htm)
dgolds
Jul 17, 02, 5:29 pm
Or http://www.southerndecadence.com
WilliamTheTraveler
Jul 18, 02, 6:59 pm
Was there a couple of years ago for Southern Decadence. HUGE crowds, impossible to get a beer in a bar or get to a restroom. Humidity is UNBELIEVABLE in late Aug in NOLA. Thunderstorms and 100 degrees (plus) at midnight http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/frown.gif It's a gay Mardi Gras so if you like big crowds, you'll love it. For me, it was a once in a lifetime deal. Would rather experience the beauty of NOLA and the French Quarter with not soooo many people. Depends on what you want. For me, it was not my "cuppa" tea.
dgolds
Jul 19, 02, 11:43 pm
William: Thanks for that very enlightening report. I was thinking about getting together with a friend in New Orleans for Southern Decadence, but I think I'll just invite him out to San Francisco instead, and we'll save New Orleans (a favorite place of mine) for another time.
globeflyerca
Jul 20, 02, 11:22 am
Haven't been to Southern Decadence, but can share some of my recent first impressions of New Orleans.
It can get quite hot and humid. I've never seen thunderstorms like this before. Severe downpours with wind without warning; many hotel lobbies which didn't have raised entrances, were flooded.
The actually have a huge Harrah's Casino in between the French Quarter and the Business District. Does that tell you thing?
Bourbon Street literally STANK! People (often rowdy, drunk frat boys aggresively soliciting women to show them their boobs for mere rainbow necklaces) walked around with their half-spilled drinks and vomiting in the streets at their leisure. Somehow, I wound up with a necklace myself....don't ask (can't remember anyways)!
This long street was lined with tacky and offensive (straight usually) porn shops or voodoo museums. It's usually too crowded and noisy most the night and day to stroll comfortably.
The 3 gay bars are all located on the same block at the end of Bourbon near Jackson Square. They charge a cover after 10pm and often have twinks girating on top of the bar near their entrances to lure the tourists.
There are a few gay restaurants near the bars too. One little diner (can't remember the name) was only a block away on the corner of Bourbon, was well-known for their attitude and slow-service. Surprisingly, I had great service and a very delicious meal (maybe it has something to do with the waitor and cook hitting on me). Anyways, it's a great spot to people watch since it offers a lot of local flavor. The waitors and cook are quite entertaining.
I found there were a lot of gay New Yorkers roaming the streets all times of the day. Or perhaps they were just more noticeable.
Cafe du Monde, across from Jackson Square, has over a century of history in NOLA and is must-visit place. Their beignets (sp?) and cafe au lait are almost tres Parisian. However, be prepared for a very long wait. Leave your good shoes and anything that's not disposaable or machine-washable at the hotel. This place is FILTHY! It's open 24 hrs a day, and it seems like no one ever cleans it. Plus, the icing sugar flying through the air will gracefully sprinkle light dustings of fairy dust in your hair, clothes, and shoes.
Not a true antique fan, suprisingly I enjoyed roaming through the antique stores and boutiques along the street that runs parallel to Bourbon (Royal Street maybe?). There MANY truly old and genuine antique pieces that offerred so much history. It felt more like walking through mini-museums than stores. Besides, the locals are quite friendly and don't hesitate to educate you on their diverse history.
If you like old homes (or even if you didn't, you should go anyways), a stroll through the Garden District is essential. There seems to be too many cemetaries in the middle of everything though. Spooky....voodoo and cemetaries.
NOLA is a massive convention town. Their convention center is a mile long and can be quite confusing if you don't know which room you're in.
Food is incrediable (spicy Cajun, Creole, etc.) with hints of French cuisine mixed in. However, it seems like most of the restaurants are owned by a handful of entrepreneurial chefs (eg. Emeril).
Hope this helps.
It can get quite hot and humid. I've never seen thunderstorms like this before. Severe downpours with wind without warning; many hotel lobbies which didn't have raised entrances, were flooded.
The actually have a huge Harrah's Casino in between the French Quarter and the Business District. Does that tell you thing?
Bourbon Street literally STANK! People (often rowdy, drunk frat boys aggresively soliciting women to show them their boobs for mere rainbow necklaces) walked around with their half-spilled drinks and vomiting in the streets at their leisure. Somehow, I wound up with a necklace myself....don't ask (can't remember anyways)!
This long street was lined with tacky and offensive (straight usually) porn shops or voodoo museums. It's usually too crowded and noisy most the night and day to stroll comfortably.
The 3 gay bars are all located on the same block at the end of Bourbon near Jackson Square. They charge a cover after 10pm and often have twinks girating on top of the bar near their entrances to lure the tourists.
There are a few gay restaurants near the bars too. One little diner (can't remember the name) was only a block away on the corner of Bourbon, was well-known for their attitude and slow-service. Surprisingly, I had great service and a very delicious meal (maybe it has something to do with the waitor and cook hitting on me). Anyways, it's a great spot to people watch since it offers a lot of local flavor. The waitors and cook are quite entertaining.
I found there were a lot of gay New Yorkers roaming the streets all times of the day. Or perhaps they were just more noticeable.
Cafe du Monde, across from Jackson Square, has over a century of history in NOLA and is must-visit place. Their beignets (sp?) and cafe au lait are almost tres Parisian. However, be prepared for a very long wait. Leave your good shoes and anything that's not disposaable or machine-washable at the hotel. This place is FILTHY! It's open 24 hrs a day, and it seems like no one ever cleans it. Plus, the icing sugar flying through the air will gracefully sprinkle light dustings of fairy dust in your hair, clothes, and shoes.
Not a true antique fan, suprisingly I enjoyed roaming through the antique stores and boutiques along the street that runs parallel to Bourbon (Royal Street maybe?). There MANY truly old and genuine antique pieces that offerred so much history. It felt more like walking through mini-museums than stores. Besides, the locals are quite friendly and don't hesitate to educate you on their diverse history.
If you like old homes (or even if you didn't, you should go anyways), a stroll through the Garden District is essential. There seems to be too many cemetaries in the middle of everything though. Spooky....voodoo and cemetaries.
NOLA is a massive convention town. Their convention center is a mile long and can be quite confusing if you don't know which room you're in.
Food is incrediable (spicy Cajun, Creole, etc.) with hints of French cuisine mixed in. However, it seems like most of the restaurants are owned by a handful of entrepreneurial chefs (eg. Emeril).
Hope this helps.
chipper
Jul 20, 02, 8:04 pm
My boyfriend went to Southern Decadence last year without me and reported that it was very wild. It sounds like it is at Queer as Folks speed, whereas my life is more like Six Feet Under. We may go down this year together, but I would rather have quiet time with the boyfriend.