February 12th, 2010
New Orleans is a fusion of so many influences that it is impossible to say where one influence starts and another one ends – cultures and creeds have become so intertwined they are not readily distinguishable and the very best of every world is there to sample, delight in and to enjoy. Not only is it a great place to visit, but you might consider moving to New Orleans.
The Mississippi River forms a crescent cut out of the high ground within which is found Vieux Carre – the French Quarter or to locals, known simply as the Quarter.Residents in the Big Easy know how to live and take it easy with the important things in life – partying is not an event so much as a way of life!While there are other interesting districts to go explore, the French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans and the rest of the city dances to the beat of this thriving, eclectic and energetic group of people and the constant stream of events and happenings.
It is easy to fall under the spell of the Quarter and you will find yourself in good company with notable writers and artists such as Mark Twain and John James Audubon finding themselves ensnared. What makes the French Quarter so alluring cannot be laid at the foot of any single thing – to say the District is a vibrant fusion is an understatement.
Wherever you look and whatever you sample, eclectism is found everywhere – simply look at the buildings and you will find Spanish tiled buildings with French style facades and porticos replete with private courtyards offering cool places to party cool as in temperature but also as in very cool stylishly.The District breeds an ambience and spirit all of its own and it is the people who have created this – take away the people and the Quarter would perish.
Music forms a major part of life in New Orleans and the Quarter with outstanding musicians living here as well as throughout more distant time – New Orleans most famous musical son, Louis Armstrong was immensely influenced by the city and especially the jazz played everywhere, particularly in the French Quarter. New Orleans may be known as the birthplace of jazz but it is not the only music in town – blues, Creole, Cajun, with independent and artistic interpretation and themes abounding and all feeding off each other leading to further development of musical forms.
Food is another area where the Quarter and New Orleans shines through with Spanish, Creole, French, Cajun and as many other different styles of cuisine as you can count making their presence felt and providing ample reason for expanding waistlines.It is very usual to find restaurants offering a fusion or independent interpretation of culinary creativity competing for patrons side-by-side – it is not simply the style of food but taste preferences as well with full menus for carnivores, vegetarians, seafood fans and Vegans.
If you’re a mover and a shaker, the French Quarter is also where the world famous Mardi Gras Carnival takes place but it is not simply the March 3rd party and frolics which actually dominates, it is the plethora of organizations and semi-social gatherings which take place throughout the year as “Krewes” compete with each other to arrange the best marching interpretation on the theme chosen by Rex – the King of the Carnival. Partying is an important social activity here in the Quarter and you can spend any number of evenings drifting from one courtyard to another and enjoying the huge number of social gatherings and parties taking place until you find what you are looking for.
Tags: Big Easy, French Quarter, Mardi Gras, New Orleans, New Orleans Louisiana, The Big Easy
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February 12th, 2010
Cheyenne offers a wide variety of things to see and do for people looking to move to Cheyenne, the locals, and visitors spending an all too brief period of time in this beautiful city. Many visitors are pleasantly surprised to find such a range of features and attractions to tempt them and providing activities taking in the history of the city and surrounding area as well as the more exciting diversions including a busy nightlife, busy cultural scene and of course, the surrounding countryside provides numerous opportunities for outdoor pursuits and recreation.
Cheyenne itself provides numerous spots for taking in the city’s historic past; the Tivoli Building is home to the Chamber of Commerce and was completed in 1892 and is major landmark building being one of the best examples in the country of Victorian architecture and at first site it appears almost incongruous in the Rocky Mountain landscape. Architecture buffs can also get their fill with other notable buildings such as the Union Pacific Depot which is a fine example of Romanesque architecture and underlines the fact that no one set of influences has dominated the development of Cheyenne.
A related popular attraction is the State Capitol building which also contains several photographic displays and wildlife exhibitions as well as being a fine architectural example in its own right. The surrounding setting is also the backdrop for very popular guided walking tours which allow the visitor to take the city ambience in at a leisurely pace.
In 1946, France gave the Merci Train to the American people for the food that was sent in the immediate post-War years. The Big Boy steam locomotive “Old Number 4004″ is also the world’s largest steam locomotive having seen service until its retirement from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1956. Staying with the military theme, Warren Air Force Base is located nearby and houses intercontinental ballistic missiles with free guided (or guarded) tours available every day.
Wyoming is also cowboy country and the cattle barons had herds of prime beef grazing over the hundreds of thousands of acres of their ranches while Cheyenne also acted a major hub for shipping beef to the rest of the country.The Wyoming Hereford Ranch is the oldest continuously operating ranch in the country and it acts as a host for numerous occasions and events. Another working ranch is the Terry Bison Ranch which caters specifically for visitors with a chuckwagon serving up cowboy cuisine and providing great trout fishing and horse-drawn wagon tours of the bison herd.
The Cheyenne Civic Center is the center for cultural events with numerous productions and performances including Broadway shows, major symphony performances as well as concerts from the resident Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra along with guest performers. In addition, the Cheyenne Little theater stages numerous plays and shows through September to May with a summer season held at the historic Atlas Theater.
Cheyenne's cultural offerings also include several museums and exhibitions notably the Wyoming State Museum with its displays of memorabilia from the days of the Wild West chronicling the history of the state. The Nelson Museum of the West further develops the cowboy and Wild West history theme and includes major displays and exhibits of native Indian artifacts and wildlife presentations.The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum has an excellent range of Native American art and specifically Ogdala Sioux as well as exhibits from the Union Pacific railroad and one of the largest collections of horse-drawn coaches and wagons.
Tags: Cheyenne movers, Downtown Cheyenne, things to do in Cheyenne
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