New Orleans Bingo: Spot 30 Typically New Orleans Things
Walk the French Quarter, tick off the card, snap a photo of every typically New Orleans thing you can find. From a beignet dusted in powdered sugar to a jazz trumpet on Royal Street, this is a 30-item New Orleans bingo that turns any walk into a treasure hunt. No fixed route. Just keep your eyes open.
Challenges (30)
Spot a beignet plate
Find a plate of beignets dusted with powdered sugar at Café du Monde or a French Quarter bakery. Photograph the sugar cloud.
Spot a gumbo bowl
Find a bowl of gumbo on a NOLA restaurant table. Photograph the dark stew.
Spot a po' boy sandwich
Find a po' boy (oyster, shrimp or roast beef on French bread) at a Cajun deli. Photograph the sandwich.
Spot Mardi Gras beads
Find Mardi Gras beads (green-purple-gold) hanging from a balcony, lamppost or tree. Photograph the beads.
Spot a Mardi Gras mask
Find a Mardi Gras feathered mask in a shop window. Photograph the colours.
Spot the American flag in New Orleans
Find a US flag flying on a NOLA building. Photograph it.
Spot a Louisiana fleur-de-lis
Find a fleur-de-lis (Louisiana symbol) on a flag, mural, gate or wall. Photograph it.
Spot a New Orleans Saints jersey
Find a Saints (black-and-gold NFL) jersey on someone or in a shop. Photograph the kit.
Spot a hot sauce bottle (Tabasco, Crystal)
Find a Louisiana hot sauce bottle on a deli table or shop shelf. Photograph the bottle.
Spot a fountain or cast-iron balcony
In the French Quarter find a cast-iron balcony with hanging plants. Photograph the iron lace.
Spot the St. Louis Cathedral
Find the St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square. Photograph the white facade.
Spot the Jackson Square Andrew Jackson statue
Find the bronze of Andrew Jackson on his rearing horse in Jackson Square. Photograph the statue.
Spot a jazz musician on the street
Find a jazz musician playing on Royal Street, Frenchmen Street or Jackson Square. Photograph the musician.
Spot a Bourbon Street neon sign
Walk down Bourbon Street and find a neon sign on a club or bar. Photograph the neon.
Spot a French Quarter pastel facade
Find a Creole-Spanish pastel facade in the French Quarter (Royal, Dumaine, St. Peter). Photograph the colour.
Spot a paddle-steamer (Steamboat Natchez)
Walk to the riverfront and find the Steamboat Natchez. Photograph the red paddle wheel.
Spot a Garden District mansion
Walk into the Garden District and find a Greek-Revival or Italianate mansion. Photograph the columns.
Spot a streetcar (St. Charles line)
Find a green St. Charles streetcar on its rails. Photograph the streetcar.
Spot the Café du Monde green-and-white awning
Find the Café du Monde original location on Decatur Street with the green-and-white awning. Photograph the awning.
Spot a brass band parade
Find a brass band marching parade (Second Line, Sunday Second Line, a wedding parade). Photograph the band.
Spot a Mardi Gras Indian costume
Find a Mardi Gras Indian-style feathered costume in a Marigny shop or museum. Photograph the costume.
Spot an absinthe glass with louche
Find an absinthe drip at the Old Absinthe House or Pirates Alley Cafe. Photograph the green spirit and dripping fountain.
Spot a praline window
Find a praline shop window with sugared pecan candies (Aunt Sally's, Southern Candymakers). Photograph the trays.
Spot a NOLA voodoo shop
Find a voodoo shop in the French Quarter (Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo). Photograph the storefront.
Spot a NOLA "X" gas-lamp
Find a French Quarter cast-iron gas lamp burning. Photograph the lamp at dusk.
Spot a NOLA Bywater colourful cottage
Walk into Bywater and find a brightly painted shotgun cottage (Creole cottage). Photograph the cottage.
Spot a NOLA jambalaya pot
Find a jambalaya plate at a NOLA restaurant. Photograph the rice with sausage and shrimp.
Spot a Frenchmen Street live music venue
Find a Frenchmen Street venue with live jazz (the Spotted Cat, Three Muses, d.b.a.). Photograph the storefront.
Spot a Saints "Who Dat" sign
Find a "Who Dat" sign, mural or Saints fan-shirt reference. Photograph the reference.
Spot a riverfront Mississippi view
Walk to the Moonwalk along the Mississippi and find the river with the Crescent City Connection bridge behind. Photograph the river.
Frequently asked questions
The duration is up to the organizer when they set up the adventure. As a guideline, a focused day across the French Quarter, Frenchmen Street, the Garden District and the Marigny ticks off most of the easy items, and stretching across a weekend lets a determined group complete all 30.
Each of the 30 items is a camera challenge. When you spot the thing, take a photo and submit it; the bingo card tracks progress. Play solo, with friends or split into teams and race to tick off the most items.
Some items (a jazz funeral, a fresh Mardi Gras parade) are seasonal or unpredictable. Sweep the French Quarter for the easy items, Frenchmen Street for jazz, the Garden District for mansions, the Marigny for the Mardi Gras Indian shops.
The French Quarter, Frenchmen Street and the Garden District hit the most items in a walking loop. Add the Marigny for street art and Bywater for cottages, the riverside for paddle steamers.
Mostly yes during the day. Kids love spotting paddle steamers, beignets, Mardi Gras beads and the Cathedral; adults enjoy hunting jazz, gumbo and absinthe. Bourbon Street is adult-oriented after dark.