Best Arts and Culture Places in Warehouse District

"Set smack dab in City Park among the Spanish moss-draped oaks complete with Greco-Roman columns and a charming sculpture garden, the grounds alone warrant a visit to this NOLA institution that’s oozing with grandeur. It’s the city’s oldest fine arts institution and boasts a permanent collection of nearly 40,000 pieces. Not only that, but it’s one of the most impressive and revered fine art collections in the whole of the south."

"Having opened in 1911, the New Orleans Museum of Art is the city’s oldest fine art institution. Back then, it had just a few art pieces but has since grown to house over 40,000 objects with a notable collection of French and American art. The museum is also home to the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, with over 90 sculptures on display in the 11-acre landscaped garden."

"With works by Picasso, Renoir, Matisse, Monet, and Georgia O'Keeffe, NOMA is an oasis of fine art that can be appreciated by both parents and children alike. Kids will love story time, child-focused art workshops, and art classes."

"Behind the museum’s main building is a gated outdoor space in 11 acres of mature parkland enriched with more than 90 works of sculpture. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in 2003 and at the time of writing in 2019 had just doubled in size with an expansion that included 26 new works, mostly by 21st-century artists. On serpentine paths among pines, magnolias, camellias and live oaks draped with Spanish moss there are pieces by Henry Moore, Deborah Butterfield, Barbara Hepworth, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Robert Indiana, Gaston Lachaise and René Magritte, as well as contemporary sculptors like Katharina Fritsch, Hank Willis Thomas and Jeppe Hein."

"The NOMA Sculpture Garden is another great part of City Park. It is a a free portion of the NOMA Museum and, as with everything in City Park, is surprisingly large, with a ton of sculptures placed among beautiful trees and small ponds. There are plenty of fun statues that make for great Instagram shots."

"Just outside NOMA’s front door, find the recently expanded Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, a collection of sculptures set among City Park’s oaks and lagoons. The three-acre expansion includes 27 outdoor artworks. Admission to the sculpture garden is always free."

"The Contemporary Arts Center, housed in a large redbrick building that stands out in the relatively muted Central Business District, is one of the city’s most prestigious spaces for the full gamut of contemporary arts, including painting, film, theater, and music. Exhibits, which rotate every four to eight weeks, can include any visual art form, from photography to sculpture and painting. The featured works are well-curated—sometimes around themes, sometimes around individual contemporary artists."

"Visit the spacious art galleries of the Contemporary Arts Center to see some world-class fine art in the up-and-coming warehouse district in downtown New Orleans. There are different artist residences happening and constantly rotating and changing exhibits. The museum is famous for the events that it hosts with different performances and lectures."

"Take in cutting-edge exhibits, featuring both local artists and the work of national and international talent, at this cornerstone of…"

"Located in the center of City Park is NOMA, New Orleans Museum of Art which the building itself is beautiful holding a permanent fine art collection of over 40,000 pieces. We will be checking this out on our next trip as well!"

"The best kind of gift is usually one that is made with love – and this extends to both gifts to others and to yourself. And what is a souvenir but a gift of love from your travels?. So if you’re in Louisiana, consider heading on down to the New Orleans Glassworks & Printmaking Studio to personally craft a souvenir of your own!"

"Arts District/American SectorIt might cost you a few duckets to take a few classes to learn how to blow your own glass artifacts (that of course would never resemble something through which one could smoke something), but watching the master glassmakers at GlassWorks is free of charge daily, and one hell of a show."

"– What is more fun than seeing an experienced glassblower making amazing designs?. At New Orleans GlassWords and Printmaking Studio, you can watch the masters at work. You might even end up buying something from their tax-free studio."

"Take the famous St. Charles Streetcar to Central City to visit the McKenna Museum of African American Art. The museum’s mission is to make African Diasporan fine art available and accessible to visitors of all ages. They work to preserve the culture of the African American community in Louisiana."

"The McKenna Museum is a fine art institution with a direct focus on African Diasporan pieces. In addition to their collection, McKenna offers a range of diverse programming such as guest speakers, workshops and book readings to further their mission and work."

"While you're strolling along Royal Street be sure to make time for the Alex Beard Studio. Beard's paintings of animals in the natural world reflect his travels in Africa and are interesting in the context of African-centric New Orleans. Influenced by both his uncle, Peter Beard, and mother, Patricia Beard, Alex's creativity derives from both nature and nurture – he spent his youth around artists such as Warhol and Capote – which echoes throughout the "Abstract Naturalism" style he has created."

"American painter and author Alex Beard is best known for his elaborate wildlife compositions created in his signature style of gesturalpainting, which he has coined “Abstract Naturalism.” Raised in a family that fostered philanthropy, creativity and exploration, Alex has traveled extensively around the world. The diverse cultures, colors, and climates of Africa, India, China, the Americas, and Australia have profoundly influenced both his professional and artistic practice."

"When we think of French Quarter art galleries, a place like Le Jardin – that’s French for ‘The Jardin’ (ha ha) – often comes to mind. Effectively a narrow corridor that leads to a spacious dream of a Vieux Carre courtyard, all of the wall space in Le Jardin is crammed wall to groaning wall with the work of local artists. Much of the stuff you’ll see on display has a folk art-y feel; the bright colors, bold presentation, locally focused subject matter and the general haphazard, slightly chaotic atmosphere of the place makes for an art experience that feels quintessentially New Orleans."

"When I walked into Café Luna, the biggest struggle I faced was determining where to sit amongst their many options. This quiet café has a porch full of outdoor tables, a cozy area with couches, and a bright orange room full of tables with art hanging all over the walls. When I settled into the back room, I was surrounded by a lot of other people working on laptops, and the room was basically silent."

"Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, (504) 262-0750; 2904 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 885-5565; 3233 Magazine St., (504) 262-6019; 9647 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge, (504) 737-8146; www.breauxmart.com. Crawfish dip is made with crawfish tails, cream cheese, sour cream, onions, hot sauce and lemon juice."

"Pamper your mind, body, and spirit at their day spa and hair salon in Lakeview. At My Spa By The Park, they offer the very best in personal care and comfort. Their professionals are committed to providing you with the highest quality salon and spa service."

"Adventurous eaters love this Metairie hot spot for its exotic Chinese menu offerings. If bean curd skin, tripe with special sauce, and fried pork intestines aren’t your jam, crispy duck, orange beef and other traditional dishes more than suffice. Daily lunch specials are cheap and good."

"China Rose was my introduction to the New Orleans soup dumpling. A chef friend told me about it, and it felt like Fight Club. The first rule of dumpling club is to not talk about dumpling club."