Honestly, I’m worried about my liver. Will it ever recover from my weekend habits? Boy do I wish it had regenerative capabilities.
I’m not so worried that I will be completely avoiding Bappy. However, I have been doing some thinking: what would a sober life in New Orleans entail? And, is the drinking culture not just pervasive but actively excluding people?
I adore this city’s enthusiasm and spirit; everything is celebrated. Seasonal eats, jazz music, football games, holidays – the list goes on. Needless to say, this community gets drunk a lot.
In your average search for activities to do in New Orleans, the overwhelming response is to drink. Nearly every search result involves an activity where a beverage will be in hand – or at least nearby. Interestingly, the first questions left on travel page forums continually come from sober adults and/or parents. Questions such as … I don’t drink anymore, will I have anything to do here? Where can I take my 16 year-old? Do you people do anything besides party? … come up a lot. I can imagine New Orleans to be a recovered-alcoholic’s worst nightmare.
I’m left wondering, what would all those parties, parades, and live shows look like if drinking wasn’t so ubiquitous? I recently took a hiatus from drinking and it created space to find new ways of spending my time, along with countless observations.
Let me ask you: have you ever been to a darty sober? Well, I have. And the sweaty-stickiness of it all doesn’t feel quite so exciting. Repeating songs that once went unnoticed caught my attention. As did the alarming nature of the bathrooms, lacking toilet paper, soap, and functioning plumbing. It’s all fun and games until someone else’s sweat is dripping on your arm and a drink has been spilled down your back. Once again … very sticky.
My curiosity and desire for a change of pace has led me to an exploration of New Orleans without substances. I think it’s comforting to know all the fun that can be had with just the magic of good company (and nothing more).
Here is the list of activities I have put together:
- Pottery classes
- Check out Earth & Fire Studio on Adams St. (Next to Starbucks on Maple St.)
- Pop into Hands in Clay Studio on Magazine St.
- Pricing for class packs is around $200-250 for 4-6 week sessions (Is this the new monthly membership you’ve been looking for?)
- Scout out a drag brunch
- “Where fun and fabulous goes over easy!”
- Top 8 locations from Eater New Orleans
- Shoutout to all the Bead Shop lovers! Go make some jewelry
- Make a day of it, sitting in their back room stringing beads
- Kayaking and paddleboarding on the Bayou
- Take a group class or get rentals for the day! Do it your way with Bayou Paddlesports
- Get tickets to see live music! House of Blues, Tipitinas, the Orpheum, Gasa Gasa and more venues are some of my favorites with reasonable pricing and flexible age minimums
- Be the main character and stare at some art at the NOMA
- WWII Museum
- History junkies, this one’s for you
- Thrifting (I always find great places on Yelp)
- Save some money, be kind to the Earth, and find a sick new piece that no one else on campus will have Some of my favs include:
- Funky Monkey on Magazine St. for costumes and eccentric pieces
- Buffalo Exchange for name-brand finds
- Salvation Army or Goodwill for budget-friendly shopping
- Glue New Orleans on Oak St.
- BigStar Vintage & Costume on Freret St.
- Save some money, be kind to the Earth, and find a sick new piece that no one else on campus will have Some of my favs include:
- Take a City Surf class on Magazine St.
- Missing water sports or wanting a strength challenge? Guaranteed your legs will be shaking after this one
- Head over to a Saints or Pelicans game
- Cheer, scream, and snack!
- Visit the open-air French Market
- Transport yourself to Paris with this European-inspired outdoor market complete with food, crafts, and flea
- Take a pole dancing class … I know you’ve been practicing at the Palms
- Picnic at the fly or in a park of your choice (bring a book, a hammock, digital camera, speaker, etc)
- Step into the NOLA boulder lounge for some indoor rock climbing
- Literally just ride the streetcar. Its $1.25 and amazing people watching
- For the musicians reading this, find an open mic night and go listen to locals (or get up there and show ‘em who’s boss!)
- Looking for a connection or simply wanting to listen to up-and-coming artists? This one’s for you
- Have a game night with friends. A little competition never hurt nobody
- Bad People Game
- We’re Not Really Strangers
- Monopoly
- Scrabble
- Girl Code
- What Do You Meme?
- Or get creative and make your own (maybe using jenga blocks)
The buzz and electrifying nature of the city is not dependent upon alcohol, so next time you’re seeking a natural buzz, give one of these a try! I can guarantee you’ll wake up the next morning feeling refreshed, content, and free of hangxiety. A little wholesome activity can go a long way … pick your favorite and enjoy!
About Hannah Levy
Hannah is currently a freshman at Tulane, studying Philosophy and Digital Media Communications. She is from Los Angeles, CA, and loves all things fashion-related! In her free time, you can find her strolling around farmer's markets and craft fairs, going to yoga classes, and walking in Audubon park.
Hannah is currently a freshman at Tulane, studying Philosophy and Digital Media Communications. She is from Los Angeles, CA, and loves all things fashion-related! In her free time, you can find her strolling around farmer's markets and craft fairs, going to yoga classes, and walking in Audubon park.
