re: Non Touristry must do's for first Trip to New Orleans

I have to just add in about this “non touristy” stuff debate.
First of all OP, you did good by asking for some restaurant advice stuff on the food and drink board. That board is great and you can get great bar and music suggestions within that thread too.

Of course everyone needs to do some of the touristy stuff while in N.O. It just can’t be that your whole trip revolves around Bourbon Street and average restaurants and overpriced shitty bars. I know way too many people who come to town for a few days, eat at the likes of Deanies or some other fried seafood place, get drunk and then hungover on sugar drinks, and then go home thinking that they’ve now visited N.O. and think it’s nothing special. And I never understood the desire to want to come to town with no reservations and be stuck standing in lines at touristy restaurants.

Def. do the shopping on Magazine, music on Frenchman street, a restaurant in the Bywater, a few places in the warehouse district, and ride the St. Charles street car line for a stop or two and some uptown bars.

Hell, even an evening on Oak Street eating at Jacques-Imos, watching Frenchy paint, then catching Re-birth at the Maple Leaf is somewhat touristy, but it makes for a good time.