If you missed my first post, check it out: New Orleans Weekend: the “Pre” Trip Deets

We arrived at the hotel around 3:20pm and were met by a man that was part of a movie crew that would be shooting on our block the entire weekend. Yay. Not. His news: “We’re using your hotel parking lot so you can’t park here… but you can probably find a parking garage in the French Quarter.” Um. The French Quarter was several blocks away. I had to meet the Bloggers on Bourbon ladies at Trisha’s hotel suite by 4 so we got checked in and went back downstairs to see about the parking situation. Thankfully the film crew had determined they didn’t need our lot so we were good on parking… oh, except that wasn’t included in our pre-paid reservation. It was extra. As in $22 extra. Per night. This just kept getting better and better. We got that taken care of and started our trek over to Conti street to find the Prince Conti Hotel where the other Bloggers were staying.

By the time we dealt with the parking issue at the hotel and walked the half mile over to Conti Street, it was already 4:45pm. I collected my materials from Trisha (including a really amazing printed book created by Lynsey featuring all the Bloggers and Sponsors participating in the event!) and walked back to our hotel to get ready for the complimentary dinner provided by Harrah’s Casino for our whole group at the Besh Steakhouse. Dinner was DELICIOUS!! The menu they put together for our group consisted of:

1. Family style appetizers
   • Besh Barbecued Shrimp — the sauce was “different” but very tasty; it was unlike any other shrimp I’ve ever had…
   • Marinated heirloom tomatoes — didn’t try them; I’m not big on tomatoes by themselves
   • House-made “Natchitoches Meat Pies” with buttermilk ranch dressing — a bit spicy; I ate all of mine :) I didn’t try it with the ranch sauce but even on it’s own, it was very good!
2. Entrees
   • Garlic Crusted Louisiana Shrimp with crushed hot-house tomatoes and “mac ‘n cheese — this is what I had and it was absolutely DELICIOUS!
     
   • Tournedos of beef, Anson Mills grits and crawfish béarnaise — this is what Barry had; I didn’t try it, but he ate every bit of it!
3. Dessert
   • Brendan’s Bread Pudding with Irish whiskey ice cream and toffee sauce — hands down, the best dessert I’ve had in a long time. I ate every bite of my rather generous slice and was mad it wasn’t larger (lol)

Barry and I had a good time getting to know some of the other bloggers and were seated next to the two Harrah’s reps who happened to be super cool! Jessica Benton and I talked to them at length about everything from the Casino to the restaurant we ate in to how the lady rep cooks beans to how the dude rep (Alex who runs @harrahsnola on Twitter) prefers his cornbread (made with cake mix, topped with powdered sugar, and dipped in syrup – can you say diabetes?).

I got to meet Trisha — the lady behind MomDot,
one of the awesomest mom communities online!

(She was also the co-organizer of the event)

I got to meet Leah — the woman behind Mamavation –
and see how amazing she looks in a corset! :)

(She was also the co-organizer of the event)

I got to meet Nicole — the woman behind GoodGollyMissBlondie –
and hear her “Bwoston” accent!

I got to meet Jessica Benton — the lady behind That Tech Chick,
who happens to love bread pudding as much as I do!

These are some of the amazing bloggers I got to kick it with all weekend:

Kim, Rachel, Tara (sponsor: Global Resort Homes), Brittany, Kas, Paula, Shasta, Jessica, Me

After we left Harrah’s, Barry, Jessica, Kim, and I took our car to the hotel to change (or so was the plan) and then meet up with the rest of the bloggers who had walked over to Jackson Square for a guided “ghost” tour sponsored by Lingerie.com. But then we got lost… and didn’t have time to run by the hotel, so I was stuck walking in 4″ heels which didn’t go over well with my feet. About a half-mile later, Jessica proved just how wonderful she can be by actually walking barefoot with me through the French Quarter LOL

We had a blast walking around learning about New Orleans’ history
and hearing a lot of the folk tales that have been circulating for centuries!

Many thanks to Lingerie.com for sponsoring the event!!

Jessica and I:

Brittany and I:

Ted (sponsor: Opensky) and Kim:

This is one way to show your daily special LOL

(This was OUTSIDE the door on the sidewalk LOL)

Community Coffee sponsored the bus ride to Houmas House & plantation.

I missed it because I was registering for American Idol, but I was told it was a GREAT time :)

There were horse drawn carriages all over the French Quarter providing tours

People were singing on the street and green water flows through gutters LOL

Ahhhh… the rich culture of New Orleans. You won’t find it anywhere else!

Our ghost tour guide wrapped up at the end and told us about her book.

Maggie pushed Jessica to the room.
This is truly the only way to travel in a hotel LOL

The swag bags… it’s only right.
I mean, after all, we are celebrity bloggers, right? :) hehe

There were some AWESOME products included… I took individual photos I’ll upload later!

SO MUCH FUN :)

We ended the night with wine and cheesecake in Trisha’s hotel suite
where I sang for the group American Idol style with Chris, Nicole, and Trisha as my judges.

It REALLY helped singing in front of the group to prepare for the American Idol audition!

More to come!

Keep checking back for more photos and details about our weekend!

Related posts:

1. New Orleans Weekend, Bloggers on Bourbon – 2nd Night
2. New Orleans Trip, Bourbon Street – the 1st Night
3. New Orleans Trip, American Idol: Registration
4. New Orleans Weekend: THE “PRE” TRIP DEETS
5. New Orleans Trip, Canal Street Cemetery: Photos!