skatoolaki

Write up from At New Orleans...

“One of the all-time favorite tourist attractions of the New Orleans French Quarter is Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, on the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Phillip Street. It was built sometime before 1772, and is one of the few remaining original “French architecture” structures in the French Quarter.

Two devastating fires, one in 1788, and the other in 1794, all but destroyed New Orleans. Hundreds of buildings – businesses and residences – were destroyed. New Orleans, and Louisiana, was under Spanish rule at the time, and the city was rebuilt as a Spanish styled city, replacing what was a crudely built French port and trading post.
Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop

Tradition has it that the Lafitte brothers operated this blacksmith shop as a legitimate appearing business, serving as a front for their privateer enterprises. One of the brothers was the infamous Jean Lafitte, Privateer, and co-hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Rumor has it that his treasure is buried in everyone’s backyard. There are many myths and rumors about the life of Jean Lafitte, but very little has been substantiated.

We do know that Jean Lafitte operated from Barataria Island in Barataria Bay, south of New Orleans. The local authorities knew where his camp was located, and even succeeded in overrunning it once. Because of his assistance to Andrew Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans, he received a Presidential pardon, and then disappeared into the foggy mists, for all time. Later, The United States built Fort Livingston on his island, and its ruins are there to this day. If you visit the Town of Lafitte, you may get a boat ride to the island.

For the past several decades, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, privately owned, is operated as a bar and restaurant, and is a favorite haunt for tourists and locals alike. I must confess, that back in the 1960’s, I was a student at the Jean McCrady Art School, across the street and down the block. There were many nights when our class, having finished our work for the evening, would adjourn to the Blacksmith Shop for a cold nightcap. Today, it remains a popular gathering place, and a favorite haunt for the New Orleans Kats and French Quarter Rats.”

Write up from Everything.com:

“Located on Bourbon Street in the Vieux Carré, Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo is one of New Orleans’ most famous tourist attractions. It sells a wide variety of candles, oils, roots, beads, blood, bones, charms and other material supplies for practicing the voodoo religion. It also offers tarot card readings and an assortment of literature and promotional items for sale.

The most famous name in New Orleans voodoo legend is Marie Laveau. During the first half of the 19th century, this devout catholic mulatto woman cast and lifted spells, brewed up love potions and predicted people’s futures. Prominent politicians sought her help, as did many citizens during the yellow fever epidemic. One of her fifteen children, Marie II (who was a voodoo priestess as well), briefly lived in the French Quarter house where the voodoo shop now resides.

Current voodoo practices in New Orleans range from candle, herb, and oil hoodoo to full-scale religious rituals involving blood sacrifice. Some elements of Santeria have been incorporated, although the female-dominated voodoo is viewed by many as the sister religion of the male-dominated Santeria. Most everything a practitioner of these faiths would need, within the limits of law and just short of livestock, can be bought inside this small clapboard house, including the infamous “Black Death” brand of cigarettes.

There is a shrine built to honor the Widow Paris inside the shop, and custom dictates that visitors should pay their respects by leaving a piece of fruit or candy for Msl. Laveau, and something shiny (ie: a coin or spare key) or a cigarette for Papa Legba. It’s a touristy ritual, but it’s kind of cool.

If amulets and hexing tools are on your shopping list but you don’t have time to make it down to the Quarter, there is another Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo shop in the Riverwalk Mall that opened during the late 1980s. Can’t find that perfect gift for your Goth friend at Spencer’s? Marie Laveau’s sells the cheapest rosaries in the city, and carries a lot of skull-themed items. The mall store sells the same stuff as the original store, but without the rustic character and gutter fumes.”

This is THE place to go after a night of partying in the Quarter – or during the day for a great lunch, or even at night for a quick meal.

The atmosphere is always fun and kickin’, and the food is never anything but delicious. A true New Orleans classic – don’t come through without stopping in.

The Grill is open Tuesday and Wednesday 8:0am – 12:00am and 24 hrs daily from 8:00am on Thursday – 12:00am Monday night.