DOWN

By Frances Deese

is the National World War II Museum, which has a new Expressions of America sound and light show. Learn more at nationalww2museum.org

If you’re planning a staycation later this year in the summer, the consistently top-ranked Audubon Aquarium of the Americas will be reopening. Romig states this will transform the riverfront, a key component of the city. Once you’ve enjoyed your time indoors, there are some great outdoor recreational ideas such as renting a kayak or paddleboard. To stay in the city, head to Big Lake in City Park, or check out Pelican New Orleans for a swamp tour.

While you’re being a tourist in your own city, one idea during a staycation is to have your own postcard challenge. Just as the thriving art scene within the city, there are numerous artistic postcards around town. Once you have them collected, taking the time to write to friends and family on them would be a great activity. Or you could display your favorites. Postcards capture a destination, and they may inspire you to take advantage of the numerous photo ops by taking your own photos.

Staycations offer a chance to step out of the everyday, while still allowing you to do things you find yourself wishing to do. These can include visiting some of the city's garden centers to get a plant as a unique memento from your time, or renting a bike, such as the Blue Bikes. Self care and treating yourself is also important to factor in. Botanical Nail and Skin Studio is a local and female owned business that can offer a range of treatments to help you unwind, botanicalnailandskinstudio. com. Another great resource you may not have thought of is the New Orleans Public Library. Not only is there the vast collection of books, but the City Archives & Special Collections, as well as the Culture Pass Program. This program offers cardholders free access to a variety of cultural institutions and attractions around the city. Learn more at nolalibrary.org a diverse group of authors, actors, and musicians from our region (and across the globe) to the French Quarter, for can’t-miss readings, writer’s workshops, walking tours, as well as a host of other events expertly curated to entertain and educate our community and its guests.

While the term is self explanatory, deciding how your staycation should look can be difficult. A good starting point is to create a list of your priorities. You don’t have to fit in absolutely everything, and some of your to-do’s can be as simple as heading to your favorite coffee shop that you haven’t been to in a while. These ideas can help guide your list and take some of the thought out of planning. After all, a staycation is still about the leisure of a vacation.

Conceived after Tennessee Williams’s death in 1983, the first festival was a twoday event presented in 1986 that attracted 500 visitors to the city of New Orleans, with the present expanded program drawing well over 10,000 attendees each year. Last year’s theme (and the first since 2019) celebrated the 75th anniversary of A Streetcar Named Desire, undoubtedly the most revered work from Williams’ storied career. As we look forward to this year’s festivities, particularly those enthralling literary discussions, it would be remiss not to give heed to book recommendations to keep you busy this spring, some rooted in New Orleans, but all destined to be experienced in whatever room you so desire.

Crescent Carnival (1942) by Frances Parkinson Keyes – Its striking cover art (by George Mayers) is what draws the eye to the book, but you can also delve into the illustrious traditions of Mardi Gras past, as partaken by three generations of two prominent, New Orleans families—separated, as always, by