New Orleans: History, Culture, and the French Quarter Music Festival
New Orleans feels different beneath your feet. Perhaps it is the sense of being in a sinking city surrounded by water, the looming Mississippi River on one side and Lake Pontchartrain on the other. Perhaps it is the atmosphere of a city with a history unlike any other, one bearing the amalgamated influences of Native Americans, French and Spanish colonists, refugees from the Haitian Revolution, enslaved Africans, black freemen, Creoles, and European immigrants, among others. Or perhaps it is the omnipresence of the “big three” attractions that draw so many to New Orleans: music, food, and architecture. But for me it is the people—warm, humble, accepting, and resilient, folks who love to adorn and are always game for celebration. A place where locals live by calibrating trauma and daily triumphs of the spirit, New Orleans is to me the most profoundly human of American cities, and my love affair with it grows deeper with every visit.Some locals say that their favorite music event in the city is the French Quarter Music Festival because of its focus on local talent. I look forward to sharing this musical feast and my own research on New Orleans–native Mahalia Jackson with Reed alumni.
- Professor Mark Burford
Overview
- Special tour of the Historic New Orleans Collection including rare maps, books, and artwork.
- Opening reception at the lovely French Quarter home of a Reed alumna.
- Personalized music suggestions by Reed’s own musical marvel and local personality Davis Rogan ‘90
- Insights into one of New Orleans’ special talents and native daughters, Mahalia Jackson, from trip leader Professor Mark Burford.
Click here to download our sign up form (PDF) Please mail this form to Alumni Relations, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, or scan and email it to alumni@reed.edu.
Cost
$800 per person includes airport pick-ups, lodging (double occupancy), opening reception, breakfasts, lunches, ground transportation, and entrance fees. $400 per person price excludes lodging.
Itinerary
This itinerary is tenative and may change.
Thursday, April 9
Afternoon arrival into New Orleans (MSY).
The program will kick off with a reception and happy hour that not only includes our travel group but will include members of the New Orleans alumni group. We will gather at the lovely and historic 1811 home in the French Quarter for an opening reception and program overview. Interested tour participants are then invited to enjoy the music of Tim Laughlin, one of New Orleans’s treasures at the Palm Court Jazz Club (cover charge applies).
Friday, April 10
We’ll gather for a continental breakfast at the Historic New Orleans Collection. Reed alumnus and assistant director Daniel Hammer ‘00 will give us an overview of New Orleans and its development. Then assistant professor of music Mark Burford will round out our morning with a talk on his research into Mahalia Jackson, a native of New Orleans and seminal figure in American gospel music.
We’ll enjoy a distinctive New Orleans lunch as a group, and during this time Davis Rogan '90 will provide an overview of the day’s musical offerings at the French Quarter Music Festival. Tour participants have an option to enjoy the free musical offerings or partake in an afternoon excursion to one of America’s great urban parks—City Park. Here folks can walk, bike, or even kayak as well as enjoy the lovely Botanical Garden and sculpture park (bike and kayak rental are subject to an additional fee).
For those who want to reconvene and plan a group outing, we’ll gather for a no host happy hour and plan the food and music for the evening.
Saturday, April 11
Continental breakfast will again be available for at the Historic New Orleans Collection. And we will talk about New Orleans and the special challenges that confront the city in preserving its heritage. Daniel will also share some special treasures from the collection for us to enjoy.
We’ll then depart the French Quarter and head west in a walking and trolley tour of the famous Garden District. We will end up for a group lunch at the historic Columns Hotel, a Garden District landmark. And just like on Friday, we will be able to plan the musical offerings with an overview from Davis Rogan.
The afternoon affords participants the opportunity to either enjoy the festival music or participate in a New Orleans cooking class (pending on advance registrations—and a surcharge). Of course, people are free to create an afternoon of your own as well.
Davis Rogan will be performing at Buffa’s starting at 7 p.m., so we will plan to gather at this classic New Orleans establishment to enjoy his talents. And since Buffa’s is located between the French Quarter and the Bywater, folks have many options for additional music and dining. We’ll also provide a list of late night eating establishments in case folks really want to get the full New Orleans experience!
Sunday, April 12
After a few days of music, eating, and drinking, we’ll offer folks a chance to take a short trek to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve. Here folks can enjoy a boardwalk across the bayou where wildlife abounds and you can learn how fragile and important these ecosystems are.
We’ll gather for a concluding brunch and end the formal programming. Folks can stay for more French Quarter music or check out for afternoon departures.
Sign up
Click here to download our sign up form. Please mail this form to Alumni Relations, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, or scan and email it to alumni@reed.edu.