Merry Christmas and happy new year! Thanks for going on this journey with us. My apologies for existence MIA on this site and late in responding to your emails for the past few months. My husband and I moved from an apartment to a firm, sprained a foot (mine), broke a pes (his) and switched jobs twice. And, we had a baby. It'southward been a good year of life changes in our adopted city.

While I've lapsed in posting here, our Instagram business relationship continues to exist adequately active. Make sure y'all bank check out us out (@newinNOLA) for #newinNOLA tips and pictures of pretty houses, sunrises and, of class, food.

Promise you had a wonderful twelvemonth. Hither are the moments y'all liked all-time on our Instagram account (via #2015bestnine):

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Offset fourth dimension in New Orleans? Hosting friends/family unit who have never been to New Orleans before? We've got you covered. The urban center is jam-packed with things to practise, but there are a few classics y'all need to hit. These are the places anybody is going to ask yous nigh when y'all get home. This list should go on you busy for a 2 or three-day weekend trip. And, please bring your ambition.

This is the Louisiana Welcome Center on I-10 near the Mississippi state line. There's free Community Coffee inside if you stop by. (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells, New in NOLA)

This is the Louisiana Welcome Eye on I-ten nigh the Mississippi country line. There's costless Customs Coffee inside if yous end by. (photograph past Carlie Kollath Wells, New in NOLA)

Basic ADVICE

Wear comfortable shoes. Yous are going to practice a lot of walking and our sidewalks are uneven. Skip the fashion show and wear something y'all can walk several miles in. No one cares if you are wearing sneakers, slip-ons or flip-flops. Near places don't accept a dress code and won't care what your footwear looks like.

In the summer, grab a hat if you are going to be outside. We have enough of hat stores here if you want to buy i. Here's more than communication about picking a lid and where to get i in New Orleans.

Exit your big bag at abode. Minimize what you are carrying around. Get a small, crossbody purse, minor clutch or a wallet in your front pocket. Large purses are easy to grab on the street and yous don't want to juggle it in a crowded bar. Go on reading →

Promise you survived Mardi Gras. Y'all probably have a house total of glitter and beads now. We sure exercise. Before you lot throw away your loot, consider your other options, such as DIY projects and recycling.

Looks for these purple and gold bead recycling bins around the metro area. Arc of New Orleans will recycle your Mardi Gras beads and throws. (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells/New in NOLA)

Looks for these royal and gold bead recycling bins around the metro area. Arc of New Orleans will recycle your Mardi Gras beads and throws. (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells/New in NOLA)

Mardi Gras beads are a good way to add some flair to your house. One of our favorite DIY bead projects – medallion magnets. See that idea plus 23 other creative things to do with Mardi Gras chaplet here.

Just want all your Mardi Gras stuff gone fast? Consider donating it to Arc of New Orleans. This nonprofit uses your chaplet to help employ people intellectual disabilities and delays in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes.

Wait for the purple and gold Arc bins at these locations:

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What better way to say/eat Mardi Gras than with a dwelling-baked male monarch cake, that delicate pastry with the purple, golden and greenish sprinkled icing. Some folks fill it with a sweet cream cheese or fruit or boudin, but this ane's the traditional male monarch block from New Orleans' favorite chef (well, mine) John Besh.

If you want the praline-topped, assistant-stuffed, gold-flecked male monarch block from Besh Chef Lisa White, hither'south that recipe. Warning – it'south not for king cake wimps.

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Happy Carnival season! One of the biggest misconceptions we've run into with new residents virtually this time of year is that Mardi Gras is a single mean solar day. Technically, information technology's true – "Mardi Gras" is Fatty Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. However, Carnival flavor – which ends with Mardi Gras – is several weeks. That means multiple days of parades, rex cakes and Mardi Gras festivities. This year, we are getting a proficient three weeks of parades.

Things kicked off concluding week with the very lewd (and creative) Krewe du Vieux in the French Quarter. Check out our Instagram page for photos or swing on over to LA to NOLA for more pix from that night. Here'south a relatively tamed snippet from it:

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Showroom Exist calls itself 1 of the largest street art installations in the American Due south. It's part of the citywide Prospect 3 art event, and information technology closes today (Jan. 19) for skillful. Best office – Showroom Be is totally free.

It's open from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. today.

For Exhibit Exist, several talented street artists covered an empty apartment circuitous in Algiers with art. The art is meant to spark a word almost urban blight and affordable housing, amongst other things. Read more nearly Exhibit Be.

Exhibit Be closes today (Jan. 19) for good. Here's the schedule. (image via Exhibit Be)

Exhibit Be closes today (Jan. 19) for good. Here's the schedule. (paradigm via Exhibit Be)

Today, Exhibit Be is going out with a bang. There's a full lineup of musicians, with Erykah Badu headlining. Also on today'south list:

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This is proficient perspective from Laura Cayouette nearly a New Orleans tradition – the Mardi Gras tree. Lovely photos too. Only, if yous don't want to become this route, the metropolis volition choice your tree upwardly if you leave information technology by the adjourn.

Fifty.A. to N.O.LA

Mardi Gras is early this year with Krewe du Vieux kicking things off on January 31st. I'g still eating treats from my Christmas stocking but it's already time for King Cake. I had my offset slice at Sucre on the afternoon of Twelfth Night. Throughout the residue of the country, people are taking tinsel of trees and setting them by the curb while here in New Orleans, many of us convert Christmas trees to Mardi Gras copse.

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Happy New year's day! Tonight (January. five) wraps upwardly the Christmas season in New Orleans. Tomorrow (Jan. half dozen) is the twelfth night of Christmas and officially starts the carnival flavour, which ends with Mardi Gras. There are 2 parades Tuesday – Joan of Arc and the Phunny Phorty Fellows.

It'south a nice tradition – extending Christmas and taking more time to enjoy the festivities. Towns, businesses and residents leave their trees and lights up until Jan. half-dozen. So, the Mardi Gras decor comes out. Some people even transition their Christmas copse to Mardi Gras copse.

Santa visited the fish at Audubon Aquarium. (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells/NewinNOLA.com)

Santa visited the fish at Audubon Aquarium. (photo past Carlie Kollath Wells/NewinNOLA.com)

Before nosotros dive into the carnival season, we wanted to take a moment to say adieu to Christmas and New Twelvemonth's. New Orleans, you lot sure do know how to do the holidays.

We've highlighted some of our favorite holiday events and moments below. What were your favorite holidays moments in New Orleans? Suggestions for what nosotros should practice adjacent year?

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I don't merits to exist original, especially when information technology comes to processed. My grandmother, the willful and beautiful Rosalie Dial, fabricated divinity and fudge, but that'south about information technology.

Patsy R. Brumfield The Southfacin' Cook

Patsy R. Brumfield
The Southfacin' Cook

Recently on NPR, I heard this recipe by Andrea Gunst and had to try it. Here'due south the original recipe. I've added a little common salt, which Andrea didn't. I wrapped the candy in small plastic bags and put it in pretty vacation tins for gifts. Here are two NPR segments nigh the candy:

//embed.wbur.org/player/hereandnow/2014/12/10/buttercrunch-ham-recipes

//embed.wbur.org/player/hereandnow/2012/12/17/gunst-holiday-gifts

Advice from NPR: Yous can double the recipe, only if you want to brand more than you shouldn't try to multiply the recipe by three or four — merely keep doubling the recipe. One cookie sail makes one batch. Proceed reading →

We're caroling in Jackson Foursquare this night (Dec. 21) with a g or so of our closest friends.  It'south a gratis, magical event in New Orleans. Open to everyone. And again, 100 percent complimentary.

The event starts at seven. Gates open at six:30 p.m.

French Quarter Festivals Inc. hosts Caroling in Jackson Square. (photo via FQF Inc.)

French Quarter Festivals Inc. hosts Caroling in Jackson Square. (photo via FQF Inc.)

Song sheets and lights are provided. Arrive early on because this is a pop event and y'all want to get within the gates. Christmas attire is encouraged. Retrieve sweaters, Santa hats, bells, etc.

You lot stand while you carol so wear comfortable shoes. Don't bring chairs unless you physically need one.

If information technology is raining, the issue volition be moved inside the cathedral. Seats/pews are available on a outset come, showtime serve basis.

Plenty of places to park:
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