When one of my friends told me she wanted to celebrate the big 5-0 in New Orleans, I immediately said “Absolutely, let’s do it!” It’s always a great place to celebrate well, just about anything…but there is also so much more to the city.I am always impressed with the appreciation for art, antiques and architecture in the Big Easy. It’s a city with a big personality and it shows! There is a zest for life that is palpable around you and a strong feeling of pride in originality. Definitely a full-flavor kind of place.  This is most especially true of the people, who have an eccentric southern hospitality and are not afraid to show it…they love to have a good time. Believing whole heartedly in letting the good times roll.There are so many things to love about this southern city including the gourmet dining scene where food and drink are abundant and delicious. They eat well and party hard and our crew followed suit. (When in Rome, right?)  There are also some key art and design shops to keep in mind when traveling there. These stores have beautifully curated pieces that will elevate any home. They offer one- of-a-kind treasures, not massed produced product. The store owners are experts and educated in their products and the history. Most of these shops are on Magazine Street, which allows for blocks and blocks of happy treasure hunting.Here are a few of my personal favorite stores and some beautiful items I found:Malachite HomeUptowner AntiquesKarla Katz AntiquesAntiques on JacksonCole Pratt Gallery [nemus_slider id="65602"]