TechAdvantage 2013: 5 Things To Do When the Sun Goes Down

Question: So what comes next after Mardi Gras week full of jazz music, elaborate floats, king cakes and beads?

Answer: A couple thousand more tourists, on business of course, taking in the old French charm, eating more than they thought possible and relaxing in the famous Piano Bar at Pat O’Brien’s.

TechAdvantage 2013 is happening February 18-21 down in the Big Easy. With over 300 different vendors from around the country, this conference/tradeshow isn’t one to miss.

As one of the largest gatherings for the rural cooperative electric group, it’s a great opportunity to get up on the latest trends in the energy industry. There are over 75 technical sessions and several different workshops and learning labs.

Luckily for those who are reading this and not from The Who Dat Nation, I have gathered a list of the top five things to do when the sun goes down.

One- Get the juiciest burger and melt-in-your-mouth loaded baked potato at the one and only Port of Call. Dating back to the 60s, Port of Call has gained their undeniable reputation for delivering a casual, yet eclectic, low-light French Quarter vibe experience. While you’re there, tell the waiter you want to “walk the plank…”

Two- You’re in the birthplace of jazz, so you have to check out Blue Nile, or better known as “The Premiere Live Music Venue in the City." Musicians like Kermit Ruffins, Troy Andrews and Soul Rebels Brass Band have all performed here. The charm of this 1832 two-story building, paired with a balcony view overlooking historic Frenchmen Street, can’t be beat.

Three- Two words…Cajun dancing. After you’ve got your dose of funk at the Blue Nile, walk down Frenchmen to The Maison. Do the Cajun Fais Do Dos, participate in a brass band throw-down or learn the Cajun two-step. Or you can take a little drive to Mid-City and experience Rock ‘n Bowl. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Listen to live music while you bowl!

Four- If I were to say Pat O’Briens, locals know what comes next… Hurricanes. Not Katrina, but their famous Hurricane Cocktails. On any given night, Pat O’s is rocking with live music, delicious southern food and crowds of people simply wanting to have a good time. If you’re staying down in the French Quarter, Pat O’s is a short walk from any hotel. Enjoy fried alligator, shrimp and grits or seafood etouffée in the courtyard, and then walk inside to the Piano Bar to sing along to classics like “Sweet Caroline.”

Five- It’s inevitable if you’re strolling through the Quarter sightseeing that you’re going to pass Jackson Square. Located on Decatur Street, the Square offers a beautiful sight of three bronze statues of Andrew Jackson, with a backdrop of the St. Louis Cathedral. You can catch the streetcar from the Convention Center and hop off at Jackson Square where there’s an endless list of things to do. Enjoy fresh, warm beignets from Café du Monde, admire local artists’ paintings along the iron fence, watch street performers, take in some Louisiana history at the State Museum, indulge in some fried seafood at any of the surrounding restaurants, and the list goes on and on.

There’s one thing for sure all you TechAdvantage attendees, once you’ve experienced the true New Orleans, you’ll never want to leave.