Shopping in New Orleans is a highly evolved leisure activity, with a shop for every strategy and a fix for every shopaholic -- and every budget. Don't assume those endless T-shirt shops on Bourbon Street or even the costly antiques stores on Royal Street are all that New Orleans has to offer. The range of shopping here is as good as it gets -- many a clever person has come to New Orleans just to open up a quaint boutique filled with strange items gathered from all parts of the globe or produced by local, somewhat twisted, folk artists.
Want to totally redecorate your house? You can do that here whether you want a complete Victorian look or top-to-bottom folk art. Want to double your record or CD collection? This town is made of music. Want to bring home the perfect souvenir? From an antique sofa that costs about as much as a year at a private college to 50¢ Mardi Gras beads, you'll have plenty of options. Even now, post-Katrina, with some shops necessarily shuttering, new ones are popping up constantly.
Searching for these treasures will be part of what contributes to your calorie-burning walks. Many a well-spent day, or even days, can be had strolling the Quarter window-shopping. But don't forget the many options on Magazine Street. Antiques aficionados eschew exorbitant Royal Street for Magazine because they know the best buys are found there. That's not as true as it has been in the past -- the Magazine Street merchants have caught on -- but the prices are definitely lower. We also love Magazine for its range of adorable shops with trendy clothes and unique gifts. For more specific information on said shops, call tel. 866/679-4764 or try www.magazinestreet.com.
New Orleans has always been a place for fine homes and fine furnishings, and as people trade up, they leave some great antiques for the rest of us. Many came from Europe in the early days, while others were crafted right in the city by cabinetmakers internationally known for their exquisite pieces. Antiquing has become so popular in New Orleans that there are even people who will take you on a personalized guided tour of city shops.
You'll also notice that the city's art galleries are clustered around the antiques shops and on Julia Street as well. Over the past 20-plus years (notice that's about as long as the Contemporary Arts Center has been open), New Orleans has grown to be an important regional and national market for contemporary fine arts.
Of course, if you're just looking for some souvenirs, whole colonies of shops in the French Quarter sell postcards, posters, sunglasses, and T-shirts. Most of them are cheap and ghastly, if not in flamingly bad taste. You might also consider bringing home Cajun spices, pralines, a jazz CD or two, some chicory coffee, or a box of beignet mix; these are the things that truly say you've been to New Orleans. If you can get to the local Winn-Dixie or other supermarket, however, the food items will be considerably cheaper than if you buy them at a souvenir shop in the Quarter.
General hours for the stores in New Orleans are from 10am to 5pm, but call ahead to make sure. In these post-Katrina days, operating hours can change abruptly, and many that have rather limited hours listed below may have been able to expand their hours since we went to press, while, conversely, some may have had to reduce hours further.
