A Big Easy Christmas: Spend a memorable holiday infestive New Orleans

Aside from the Big Apple, there is no better place in America to experience the magic of the Christmas season than New Orleans, a jazzy, fun-loving city where families celebrate the holidays with authentic local traditions and a special joie de vivre. The holiday season is especially festive this year, due to the ever-expanding 26th annual Christmas New Orleans Style (presented by French Quarter Festivals, Inc.). More than 100 events are being held daily throughout December, with more free concerts and children’s activities than ever before. AOL.com named New Orleans number two of the “10 Best Places in the U.S. to Get into the Holiday Spirit,” and families are snapping up room reservations at leading luxury hotels, taking advantage of the special “Papa Noel” rates that are currently being offered; these are some of the best lodging deals of the year.

The Big Easy is a veritable holiday wonderland for visitors of all ages, from the brilliantly lit Celebration in the Oaks extravaganza in City Park to the lavish multicourse Reveillon dinners held at leading restaurants, free cooking demonstrations by world-famous chefs, children’s holiday teas and visits with Santa, riverfront bonfires, parades and fireworks over the Mississippi River, free cathedral concerts, historical characters in period dress strolling through the French Quarter, and candlelight caroling in Jackson Square with a backdrop of steamy jazz.

The best place to start is by making a hotel reservation. The luxurious and elegant Royal Sonesta hotel in the heart of the French Quarter features numerous holiday happenings, prime dining venues, and the best jazz club in the city, Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, named for the Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter, composer, and recording artist. The special “Papa Noel” rates available in December start at just $119 per night. There are 483 beautifully appointed, spacious guest rooms and suites providing views of the tropical courtyard, the outdoor pool, and the French Quarter. The gorgeous, sprawling lobby is elaborately decorated for the holidays (300 Bourbon Street; 504-586-0300; 800-766-3782).

Events at the Royal Sonesta kick off December 1 at 6 pm with the 6th annual Lighting of the Balconies. With the flip of a switch, thousands of twinkling lights illuminate the elaborate wrought iron balconies, as gospel choirs and members of the New Orleans Saintsations perform (free and open to the public).

The Royal Sonesta’s popular Royal Teddy Bear Tea, offered from December 16-23, is a treasured New Orleans tradition. The tea includes story time with Mrs. Claus and Santa’s arrival (and photos), dancing and singing with favorite holiday characters, and teatime with an assortment of tasty treats. The hotel’s Grand Ballroom is transformed into a “Royal Kingdom” featuring holiday characters including the Sugarplum Fairy Princess, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and the cuddly Royal Teddy Bear, plus members of the famous New Orleans Saintsations. To make reservations, call the holiday desk: 504-553-2328; also visit sonesta.com for holiday happenings.

The magic of Christmas can also be experienced at the historic 125-year-old Hotel Monteleone (214 Royal Street; 504-523-3341; 866-338-4684), which is offering great “Papa Noel” holiday rates through December 29 (weekdays), starting at $99 per night. The landmark hotel, which is known for its celebrity guests and is beautifully decorated for Christmas, is the French Quarter’s largest full-service hotel featuring 600 luxurious guest rooms and suites. This is a wonderful time of year to visit Hotel Monetelone, as school choirs sing holiday carols weekdays between 10 am and 12:30 pm through December 16; performances last one-half hour. Monte the Lion entertains children at the festive holiday teas held December 10 and 17. Monte, the official mascot for the hotel, appears at the teas, and is joined by Santa, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa’s elves. Mrs. Claus reads classic Christmas tales and a trumpeter leads guests in a musical parade. Savory treats, games, and caroling fills the air with joy. Monte closes the day by presenting each guest with a Monte stuffed animal. To make reservations for the children’s holiday tea, call 504-681-4452 or visit hotelmonteleone.com. To see a complete list of dates, times, and events, visit hotelmonteleone.com/calendar-events.

In addition to having lots of holiday fun at the many events held in December, you will also want to do some Christmas shopping while in New Orleans. The most interesting place to shop in the French Quarter is Vintage 329, which opened last year and is considered one of the most unique galleries in the U.S. (329 Royal Street; 504-525-2262; Vintage329.com). Vintage 329 is an expansion gallery to the larger version, Vintage 429, which opened in the French Quarter in 1988.

Shopping at Vintage 329 is a memorable adventure for those who are interested in rare, one-of-a-kind items not to be found anywhere else. Gallery owner Joey Sutton is a lover of history and a passionate third-generation collector. He has expanded both galleries with his wife, Lois, a savvy business woman and community leader who is publisher of Where Magazine, a leading visitor guide published in more than 40 cities around the world. Lois is always in the know about what is hot and happening in New Orleans.

At the new Vintage 329, you will find unique treasures, such as a framed acoustic guitar signed by John, Paul, George, and Ringo, and Ernest Hemmingway’s signed first edition, first printing of For Whom the Bell Tolls. There is also intriguing sports memorabilia such as a baseball signed by Joe DiMaggio and his wife Marilyn Monroe, and such rare items as Wyatt Earp’s personal four-barrel pocket pistol, and the Presidential flag signed by nine U.S. Presidents, from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush. The gallery is authorized as the exclusive dealer for the private collection of Sean Rich (The History Channel). A master gunsmith and arms expert, Rich is a modern-day Indiana Jones; his excursions take him around the world searching for hidden treasures. One of Rich’s 16th-century treasure chest finds is on display at Vintage 329.

Harry Potter lovers, listen up: you can find a complete Harry Potter book set that is signed by the author at Vintage 329. Also check out the exquisite, one-of-a-kind jewelry, including an amazing collection of antique 1920s Czechoslovakian glass necklaces and earrings; each stunning piece is handmade and is designed to accentuate the colorful and meticulous glasswork of the period. The entire collection was just recently discovered, still wrapped in its original tissue and in its original boxes. From antique weaponry to rare maps and a 1928 Chickering grand piano, there is something for everyone at Vintage 329, which is an absolute must when visiting New Orleans.

For those who enjoy collecting special New Orleans-style Christmas ornaments, there is an award-winning artist who produces annual Christmas collectibles. Christy Works-Boutte is famed for all of the many annual Louisiana festival posters she is commissioned to produce. Her vivid oil paintings have become increasingly popular (and valuable) in the past few years, and her art is in demand.

Works-Boutte paints a new Christmas-themed Louisiana oil painting every year, and it becomes the digital image that is reproduced for her annual edition Posterslate ornaments. Last year, she depicted a Fleur-de-Lis wearing a Santa’s hat. This year, one of her popular Mardi Gras trees was used for the 2011 ornament: it is adorned with Christmas colored beads instead of the traditional purple, green, and gold. The small giclee reproductions are applied to salvaged roofing slate gleaned from the Greater New Orleans area. The ornaments are packaged in an attractive acrylic box with holiday crinkle-cut paper, then placed in a gift bag, resulting in a unique Louisiana collectible gift for around $35. The artist is also producing an exclusive Posterslate commemorative ornament for “Noel a Mandeville,” a Christmas festival held in Mandeville December 10-11. Works-Boutte owns a charming gallery and frame shop with her husband, Brock Boutte (located at 642 Terry Parkway in Gretna; 504-366-3736), where her work is exhibited; it is also available at the online store: artbychristy.com.

The single most important thing you need to see when visiting New Orleans during the holidays is the 25th annual Celebration in the Oaks extravaganza held at City Park, which runs through January 1, 2012. The elaborate light show and festival is located in the Botanical Garden and also in the Amusement Park. New exhibits this year include the “Who Dat” tree, “Wonders of Toyland,” and the “Walk of Bugs.”

A great way to see all the miles and miles of twinkling lights shaped into beautiful holiday scenes high up inside the ancient oak trees is to ride the miniature train all around the park at night. Take a walk through the Botanical Gardens to see all the many wonderful Christmas trees decorated by local school children, and hear the nightly musical entertainment; visit adorable Storyland (a small children’s theme park featuring storybook characters and hands-on displays); check out the lively Carousel Gardens and ride the antique carousel; and then take a break for some warm holiday treats at the full-service café. There is also ice-skating inside City Park in December (a synthetic ice rink has been installed near Celebration in the Oak’s Mr. Bingle). You can rent skates or bring your own. For park hours and information, visit celebrationintheoaks.com. ✦