• Mardi Gras 2022: Where to eat, what to do

    Best Places To Eat And Visit In New Orleans For Mardi Gras

    4 Min Read

    Carnival is one of the most celebratory times in not only Louisiana, but across the South. If you’re headed to New Orleans for the festivities, you should have a plan on what you’d like to do (and eat).

    Mardi Gras 2022: What To Do And Where To Eat

    This article will show you some of the best places to visit and the top restaurants to eat at during your visit to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

    Table of Contents:

    When is Mardi Gras 2022?

    Mardi Gras 2022 is Tuesday, March 1, aka Fat Tuesday. But in the city, related events such as shows, parties, pageants and parades stretch two weeks before and after. Sometimes, events can go until Easter.

    Where To Visit New Orleans For Mardi Gras

    Now that we’re straight on the dates, let’s talk about some must-visits for your trip.

    French Quarter

    French Quarter in New Orleans

    One of the most famous districts in the world, New Orleans’ French Quarter is where you’ll find street dancers, a second-line band playing into the night and strong hurricane drinks.   While there’s no big “thing” to visit or see in the French Quarter, just being around the area can yield some treasures for the observant person.

    Pitot House

    Pitot House in New Orleans

    1440 Moss St, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 482-0312

    If you want a dose of antebellum history, the Pitot House in New Orleans fits the bill. The historic landmark is an 18th-century Creole colonial country home and makes for a great weekend stop.

    Take A Swamp Tour

    Best New Orleans swamp tours

    When you come to Nola, there are few things as bayou-authentic as a swamp tour. You’ll enjoy the time outdoors, get a real taste of the bayou and even get to see some alligators.

    Here are some top swamp tour companies:

    Eat Some Beignets At Cafe Du Monde

    Best beignets in New Orleans at Cafe Du Monde

    Cafe Du Monde is known around the world as having some of the best powdered dumplings — beignets — you can find outside of France.

    Here’s what one reviewer says about Cafe Du Monde. “What else can I say that hasn’t already been said. This place is an absolute must despite the touristy crowd. The jazz band that sits on the sidewalk out front adds the perfect level of cover from the hustling and bustling sounds of the street.”

    Where To Eat In New Orleans For Mardi Gras

    Now let’s get into some great places to eat in New Orleans right now.

    Brennan’s

    417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 |  (504) 525-9711

    brennan's has the best food in New Orleans

    Here’s what one reviewer says about Brennan’s: “Design of the restaurant is really good. Service was decent. However I did not like the food. Whether that was my fried rabbit particularly or the oil they use, I just stayed hungry.”

    Cochon Restaurant

    930 Tchoupitoulas St suite a, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 588-2123

    Cochon steak in New Orleans

    Here’s what one reviewer says about Cochon: “Our experience at Cochon was pleasant. Service was quick and food was delicious. Drinks are also well crafted. The oysters on garlic chili oil was a winner. The alligator was different. If you don’t mind eating alligator then it’s probably good. Just not for me.”

    Commander’s Palace

    1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 899-8221

    Commander's Palace is the best in New Orleans

    Here’s what one customer says about Commander’s Palace: “Commander’s Palace was a lovely dining experience- the ambiance was great, our waiter had a dynamite personality, and we had fun having an excuse to dress up! I forget the details but I believe the sourcing of the meat was local/organic if they possibly could which I thought was nice. Also, the bread pudding was delicious!”

    Doris Metropolitan New Orleans

    620 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | : (504) 267-3500

    Doris Metropolitan has the best food in New Orleans

    Here’s what one customer says about Doris: “This place was incredible. The service was excellent. The food was… I swear I died and am presently a ghost. The desert was so so so rich, but so incredibly good.
    Absolutely hit this place up if you are looking to dine high quality.”

    Final Word

    New Orleans is known as a party city, but a celebratory city is a much more accurate word. Mardi Gras marks one of the largest celebrations in the world and it happens every year right here in New Orleans.

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  • Chef Lavigne in New Orleans

    New Cooking School Shows New Orleans Residents How To Make Cajun, Creole Delights

    1 Min Read

    If you love cooking, then you’ll appreciate a new school that teaches you how to make some of the most flavorful dishes in the Southeast.

    Deelightful Roux recently was opened by Chef Dwynesha Lavigne, who is best known as the founder and creator of Deelightful Cupcakes, a gourmet cupcake and confectionary treats bakery.

    Lavigne’s school is an interactive cooking school housed at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans.

    To city residents, Lavigne may be more known for her regular segments on WWLTV.

    The cooking school takes place three times a week — Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays starting at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

    The classes will have up to 10 people and be centered on New Orleans-style dishes.

    Want to join in? Sign up here.

    Here are the best black-owned restaurants in New Orleans.

    More From NolaFi.com:

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  • Vacinnation children in New Olreans

    Vaccination Mandate Begins For New Orleans Children

    2 Min Read

    In one of the strictest COVID-19 mandates in America, all children ages 5 to 11 in New Orleans will be required to be vaccinated to attend school or visit public spaces.

    The mandate is one of many the New Orleans officials have been considering as a way to curb the spread of the coronavirus that has plagued us all for nearly two years now.

    Not all vaccines have been approved for use in children, but one has: Pfizer.

    The Pfizer low-dose COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for children ages 5 to 11. The vaccine received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA .

    If you don’t want your child vaccinated, you can opt out of the program by simply citing a medical, religious or philosophical objection.

    Where Can Children Go To Get Vaccinated?

    Parents can take children to get vaccinated at the following health institutionns.

    Existing pediatrics patients:

    Don’t have a Children’s Hospital pediatrician?

    U.S. health officials continue to push prevention as the #1 to ward off COVID among all age groups. Remember to wear a masks in public indoor spaces, social distance and wash your hands regularly.

    If you’re looking for the booster shot near you, here’s where to get one at.

    What COVID phase in New Orleans in?

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  • Where to get a COVID test in New Orleans

    Where To Get Tested For COVID In New Orleans

    2 Min Read

    If you think you have coronavirus, you might not know who to call or where to go. The main thing is not to panic! Here’s how to get tested in New Orleans, Louisiana.

    The city of New Orleans is continued to make resources available to help mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. City residents are encouraged to take advantage of the health care they need during this crisis.

    How To Get Tested For Coronavirus In New Orleans

    Wednesday, December 1, 2021

    8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing (Armstrong Park)
    8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing (UNO Lakefront Arena)
    8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing (West Bank)
    8 a.m. – 5 p.m.Community Vaccine Event (New Orleans East)
    8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Drive-Thru Vaccine Event (Armstrong Park)
    8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Drive-Thru Vaccine Event (UNO Lakefront Arena)
    8 a.m. – 4 p.m.Drive-Thru Vaccine Event (West Bank)
    9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Community Vaccine Event (Airport)
    9:30 – 11 a.m.COVID-19 Testing (Central City)
    12 – 5 p.m.Community Vaccine Event (Lakeside Shopping Center)
    1 – 4 p.m.COVID-19 Testing (Metairie)
    2 – 4:30 p.m.Drive-Thru Vaccine Event (Alario Center) – Ages 5-11
    5 – 7 p.m.Community Vaccine Event (Pelican’s Game at SKC)

    Final Word

    If you feel that you have been infected with COVID, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends that you quarantine in case you might have been exposed to the virus.

    Have you been vaccinated? Here’s where to get your booster shot in New Orleans.

    MOre Articles From NolaFi.com:

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  • where to get the booster shot in New Orleans

    Where To Get A Booster Shot In New Orleans

    3 Min Read

    If you’re vaccinated against COVID-19, it may be time for you to get a booster shot. There are many places in New Orleans where you can get the shot to protect you against coronavirus.


    U.S. health officials have recommended that all Americans already vaccinated from either the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson shot get booster shots.

    When Should You Get A COVID Booster Shot?

    For individuals who have received a Pfizer or Moderna COVID vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at six months or more after their initial two-dose series:

    Booster shots are also recommended for people 18 and older who had a Johnson & Johnson vaccine two or more months ago, according to the DPH.

    What Places Offer The COVID Booster Shot In New Orleans?

    CVS

    CVS Health announced that select CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations will begin offering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot to eligible populations. 

    Walmart

    At your local Walmart, COVID-19 booster shots could be available. Call the store location closest to you to make sure.

    Sam’s Club

    Sam’s Club is another place you can go to be the booster shot to fight against COVID. Go to walmart.com/COVIDvaccine and samsclub.com/covid to learn more. 

    Kroger

    Select Kroger locations are also offering the booster shot. You can schedule your booster shot appointment here.

    Walgreens

    At Walgreens pharmacy, you can make an appointment for a COVID-19 booster shot. It can be scheduled through Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine by calling 1-800-Walgreens or by calling a local Walgreens store.

    Where To Find Immunization Locations

    You can go to vaccines.gov to find some of the thousands of places around the country where you can get a shot.

    Pfizer, Moderna and J&J shots are all FDA-approved, but if you have any questions or concerns, make sure to consult with their health care provider or pharmacist.

    According to the CDC, a plan that was recently announced calls for  COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all Americans. CDC’s independent advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, continue to meet about the use of COVID-19 vaccines.

    What COVID phase in New Orleans in?

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  • best period app trackers

    5 Women’s Health Apps That Can Help Keep You On Track

    4 Min Read

    Women’s health is a serious matter. That’s why tech companies have invested so much money into making sure that we have apps that can help tend to our health.

    There are many apps you can use that tell you when your menstrual cycle is due and whether it’s late or not. One question you may be wondering is whether period apps are any good.

    Do Period Apps Actually Work?

    Do period apps really work? It’s a good question. How can an app know the internal clock of my body, you may ask.

    Here’s how period apps work: Once you input the times that you regularly experience your cycle, the app uses it to provide an estimate pertaining to your ovulation times and when your cycle is set to begin.

    The prediction in the app is not 100%. In fact, some sources have reported that the accuracy can be as low as 21%, but that has not been my experience.

    What Apps Are Good For Period Tracking?

    Here are the best period apps in the Android and Apple app stores. The reviews were taken from the actual app pages in the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

    1. Period Tracker

    Android | IOS

    best period tracker app

    Here’s what one reviewer says about Period Tracker: “I originally downloaded this app because I wanted to track certain behaviors with relation to my cycle. Specifically, back pains and those days I just got so frustrated. Sure enough, they were usually a few days before my cycle. What I love about this app is how customizable it is. It has a variety of little icons and pictures, and you can track anything you want from chocolate cravings to headaches. I used a little picture of a whale to track when I started feeling bloated. I just noticed they have a little corked wine bottle with incrementally more bubbles in it to represent constipation. How could you not love that?”

    2. Eve

    Android | iOS

    Period tracker Eve is one of the best apps

    Here’s what one Google Play reviewer says about Eve by Glow: “Cons:First,glow premium is a whole joke. Understandable,not paying for the gems I don’t want is fair on the basis that I’ll never use a certain one.I feel as though I should be able to taylor my own experience on the app.I don’t care to know about my cycle twins when it’s about my own. ↪But why do I have too pay for my own cycle’s information?? All that needs to be free .I know bedsider exists-besides it, uneeded info abounds.Had app since 2017wasn’t like this Pros:Cycle preditions acc.”

    3. Clue

    Android | iOS

    Clue is the best period tracking app

    Here’s what one reviewer says about Clue: “I’ve used this app for 4 years and it’s been great! It tracks my cycle accurately, as long as I put in the data (sometimes I forget lol). There is a lot of helpful information to understand what they’re tracking and why and what it tells them and you. It’s discreet, has a nice design, and isn’t overtly feminine, which is nice for trans and gender-nonconforming folks who menstruate!”

    4. MyFlo

    Android | iOS

    MyFlo period tracking app

    Here’s what one reviewer says about the MyFlo period tracker app. “The app has a lot of information. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars is because they have some things that need to be improved on the app. 1. It can take 10+ seconds to load 2. If you click back to go back to another screen it will freeze 3. If I want to add some details to my calendar for previous days I can’t.” 

    5. Flo

    Android | iOS

    Flo is the best period tracking app

    Here’s what one reviewer says about the Flo app: “I have been using this app for awhile now and have been very dedicated to tracking my body’s cycle. With this app I avoided pregnancy successfully for 2 years without hormonal birth control by working around my fertility rhythm using the information Flo provided. The longer you use it, the more accurate it it becomes.”

    Final Word

    Many women can’t remember when their periods are supposed to come. To figure out when your cycle starts, count starting with the first day of bleeding until it stops.

    For the most part, a normal menstrual cycle will take about 28 days, but there could be a wide variety based on several factors like diet, trauma and stress.

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  • New Orleans Pilot Parklet program how to apply

    New Orleans Extends Program To Help Restaurants And Bars

    3 Min Read

    The City of New Orleans recently announced that it is extending fee waivers for the Parklet Pilot Program through Dec. 31, 2021.

    The program has been in place as a reaction to the restrictions mandated because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    New Orleans Extends Fee Waivers For Pilot Parklet Program

    Under the program, which was launched in the fall of 2020, restaurants are able to incorporate Curbside Dining and Parklets Pilot into their dining experiences to keep staff and customers safe.

    According to the city, “This pilot is set up to enable restaurants and bars throughout the city to expand their operations into the public, on-street parking spaces. The pilot will run for as long as there are COVID-related occupancy restrictions in restaurants and bars.   After that, the City is expecting to launch a permanent parklet program. Details regarding the transfer from pilot to permanent parklet program will be released as the permanent program is developed, but it will require re-permitting.”

    Our small businesses — and particularly our restaurants and bars — are the backbones of New Orleans community and culture, and we know that they have been deeply impacted by COVID. With this permit, almost every restaurant and bar in the city will be able to have some outdoor space, which we know are safer than being indoors. The launch of the Parklet permit citywide is another example of how the City of New Orleans is creatively utilizing its assets to support our businesses, create safe spaces for residents, and activate our neighborhoods,” said Jeff Schwartz, Director, Office of Economic Development.

    What Is The New Orleans Pilot Parklet Program?

    The New Orleans Pilot Parklet Program has been set up to create safe opportunities for restaurants and bars to operate safely in the city.

    Here are some things to know about the program.

    • Restaurants and bars are eligible to apply for the permit during the pilot.
    • Fees are waived during the pilot at least through Dec. 31, 2020.
    • Pilot will run for as long as there are COVID-related occupancy restrictions in restaurants and bars.
    • The City can provide barricades on a first-come, first-served basis, after which businesses will need to supply their own approved barriers. Barriers will be an eligible expense under the upcoming round of Outdoor Dining grants.
    • Outdoor Dining grants of up to $2,000 will be made available to interested businesses beginning Nov. 2, 2020.

    How To Apply For The New Orleans Pilot Parklet Program

    New Orleans restaurants and bars can apply for the Pilot Parklet program through the City’s One Stop Shop, and by email at outdoordining@nola.gov. Review the Pilot Program application requirements and a step-by-step overview of the process at the City’s website here, and view a copy of the application here.

    Final Word

    New Orleans needs its restaurants more than ever right now. And the only way to do that safely and responsibly is to cooperate together with business, city and health officials.

    Remember that waiters and waitresses across the industry make less than $3 a day unless they receive tips, so please show your gratitude for your service.

    Looking for more places to eat in Nola? Here Are Some Top Desserts To Order In New Orleans.

    More From NolaFi.com:

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  • 5 Drinks That Are Healthy For You (Besides Water)

    3 Min Read

    What you put in your body is of utmost importance. There’s nothing as refreshing as a nice, cold drink. That’s why water is the ultimate nutritional drink. But what can you drink Besides water that’s healthy?

    Believe it or not, there are liquids out there besides water that are pretty healthy for you. Some of them contain nutrients that promote hair growth, weight loss, blood circulation and much more.

    5 Healthy Drinks (Besides Water)

    Let’s look at some things to drink that are good for you (besides water).

    Smoothies

    When you think about it, why wouldn’t a liquid fruit be as nutritional as it sounds (and looks)? In many cases, smoothies are just that – liquid fruit and vegetable concoctions — that fortify your body.

    With smoothies, you can to take in fiber as well as protein, which lowers your risk of diseas and increases your overall wellness.

    Green Tea 

    Green tea is known for its medicinal properties and has been in use for centuries, especially in Asia. Drinking green tea can also help you lose or stabilize your weight.

    Here are some of the ailments that green tea can also help with:

    • Diabetes
    • Heart disease
    • High Blood Pressure
    • Cancer

    Mint Tea

    Peppermint tea or mint tea is a popular drink because it has zero calories and generally tastes good. The mint flavor also acts as a natural breath freshener.

    Mint tea has been known to help with the following ailments:

    • Indigestion
    • Headaches
    • Congestion
    • Sore Throat

    Soy Milk

    Soy milk has gotten a bad rap through the years. While many view it as imitation cow milk, soy milk stands on its own for the gentle way it treats your stomach.

    Because soy milk is a plant-based substance, lactose-sensitive people can drink it with no problem. Soy milk also helps provides a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids which promote mental health issues and even some neurological ones.

    Lemon Juice

    Much has been said about the benefits of orange juice, and it’s all rightly deserved, but lemon juice is right up there with it.
    Lemon juice gives you a strong dose of Vitamin C, which promotes bone density and strong circulation. Lemon juice is very nutritional and can counteract against heart diseases and ailments involving soft tissue.

    Final Word

    In addition to fruit and veggie smoothies and soy milk and similar products, there are other healthy drinks for you as well. Black coffee, which we didn’t discuss in detail, is an excellent alternative to its caffeine-laden counterpart.
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  • best wprkout mats for your home gym

    Best Workout Mats For Your Home Gym

    1 Min Read

    If you’re building your home gym, no doubt you’re aware that you need a good mat to work out on.

    In this article, we’ve identified some of the best workout mats on sale online. While you need to keep in mind the price of the mat, the quality is of equal importance.

    Here Are The Best Gym Mats You Can Buy Online

    Amazon Basics Gym Mat

    Buy Now

    Extra Large Yoga Mat

    Buy Now

    High Density Equipment Mat

    Buy Now

    Large Exercise Mat

    Buy Now

    Final Word

    One last thought is that you need to compare prices to get the best deal on a mat.

    New Orleans is one of those cities that you can get lost in once you take the time to explore it. As the former capital of Louisiana, New Orleans is one of the most eclectic and eccentric cities in the world.

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