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24 Things To Do At Every Hour In New Orleans

The Crescent City is the REAL one that never sleeps. Suss out this spectrum of incredible stuff to do, see, and dabble in at any given time when you Follow Your NOLA.

7:00 a.m. – Merchant

8:00 a.m. – Crescent City Farmers Market

9:00 a.m. – Spitfire Coffee

10:00 a.m. – Backstreet Cultural Museum

Decades ago, local resident Sylvester Francis began documenting the culture and traditions of the Tremé neighborhood with a Super 8 camera – now all archived and captured in a dedicated museum celebrating the special neighborhood. Exhibitions cover spectacles like beautifully ornate Mardi Gras indians, jazz funerals, social aid and pleasure clubs, and of course, those joyful and spontaneous second-lines.

11:00 a.m. – St. Claude Alternative Arts District (Bywater)

The revival of life in the Marigny/Bywater is a bohemian hotbed of street artists, rogue galleries, and holistic study rooted in the neighborhood's Healing Center – a shared space filled with local purveyors of health, wellness, and development from physical therapy and yoga, to food co-ops and a renewable energy council.

Noon – Old New Orleans Rum Distillery

1:00 p.m. – Crescent Park

2:00 p.m. – District Donuts

3:00 p.m. – Derby Pottery & Tile

Slide up Magazine Street to this spot that specializes in handmade tiles replicating the street names all over the city, Water Meter cover replicas, and handmade tableware filled with fleur-de-lis, so you have NOLA in your hand or your house all the time.

4:00 p.m. – Pizza Domenica

5:00 p.m. – Free Park Shows

People United For Armstrong Park are honoring the Tremé throughout the summer with block parties in the Tuba Fats Square section of the downtown park, and kick off their months-long Jazz in the Park series to cover September and October.

Then, in the spring, you can indulge in 12 weeks' worth of free music immediately after work every year with Wednesdays at The Square. It's the perfect time to check out large acts that normally sell out other venues regularly. This year included Anders Osborne, The Iguanas, and Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

6:00 p.m. – Wine Institute New Orleans

Learn while you drink! This center run by certified sommeliers offers pairing events, theme parties, and even personal consultation on building and maintaining your own cellar. Open late for post-happy-hour partying, too!

7:00 p.m. – Kayak/Paddleboard on Bayou St. John

No airboats needed to float through Sportsman's Paradise! Whether doing a little water workout or just watching the sunset on the banks, this is your ideal space for spending the magic hour. Swing over to Restaurant Row on Esplanade Avenue afterwards, where you can sample authentic tastes of New Orleans' main European foundations – Spain at Lola's and France at Café Degas.

8:00 p.m. – Preservation Hall

This storied hall opens for its first set at 8 p.m. every night. You can catch local all-stars, or stick around for the nationally touring house band led by Ben Jaffe when they're not on the road or playing with the likes of Pretty Lights and My Morning Jacket. Recently, tons of widely recognized rock stars from Trombone Shorty to Foo Fighters have had secret sit-ins.

9:00 p.m. – Killer Po' Boys at Erin Rose Bar

Nestled within beloved French Quarter dive bar Erin Rose, these internationally-inspired sammies with the freshest local ingredients are a pleasant punch-up on a town-wide tradition.

10:00 p.m. – Frenchmen Street: Maison / d.b.a.

There's always action on Bourbon Street, but the soul of the Quarter sings and struts through every front door of the clubs lining Frenchmen Street. Make your arrival time 10 p.m. to catch the second set of bands stopping in or sticking with their residencies any given night.

11:00 p.m. – Yuki Izakaya

Midnight – Kajuns Pub

Open 24/7 with karaoke EVERY NIGHT at 9. What else could you need?

1:00 a.m. – Lost Love Lounge

2:00 a.m. – Maple Leaf Bar

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise: This is hands down the best venue in the city. Make the trip from the Quarter up to Carrollton to check out its charming courtyard and no-frills room featuring superjams and residencies that go way past curfew. Any night you could witness once-in-a-lifetime moments with local legends.

3:00 a.m. – Snake & Jake's Christmas Club Lounge

Stumble around the corner to the dive-iest dive bar in the nation. Crack open a couple of cans in a room lit by twinkling lights where it’s Christmas all year-round.

4:00 a.m. – Buffa's Bar & Restaurant

Head back over toward the Quarter to this ever-reliable establishment that happens to offer food and booze 24/7, open mic stand-up nights, and Sunday jazz brunches.

5:00 a.m. – Molly's at the Market

That Frozen Irish Coffee swizzle is your signature New Orleans move to personify the transition from late night to early morning.

6:00 a.m. – Morning Call/Big Lake – City Park

Cap off your adventures with a classic round of beignets and cafe au lait while taking a lap around the beauty of City Park.

Map your way through New Orleans around the clock!