Tipitina's, New Orleans

If someone says Tips, they mean uptown Tipitina's - on Tchoup. (chop) and Napoleon. French Quarter Tips is only open at Festival or holiday time. While good shows can be seen at either, do yourself the favor of rubbing 'Fess on the head as you enter uptown for some grooves.

18 and over. Be responsible enough to drink - nobody likes the guy who has to be thrown out of a friendly venue. They've gone smoke free. There may be an early show and a late show, possibly a sunrise set. Some shows will sell out weeks in advance. Others you can make a grab for at the box office the afternoon of, or just walk into.

I have seen some of the most incredible shows of my life here. Tallent that made me weak in the knees, jams that lasted till the sun came up, staff that never takes *** but cares if everybody's having a good time.

Dress Code: Don't be a dick. Don't get naked. Don't yak on anybody. Stay in your gender's bathroom.

Tip's is a funky warehouse-type venue for live music. Standing room only - two bars serving a variety of drinks including local beer. Get an Abita Amber on tap and rock out to whoever is playing that night. Sunday's are cajun fais-do-do night, and they have "Free Friday's" during the summer. I've seen the likes of Bonerama, Cowboy Mouth, Stanton Moore, Galactic, and Paul Sanchez. Unfortunately, smoking is permitted inside here, so if you are hyper sensitive (like me) you will wake up congested the next day...

Dress Code: Casual - shirt and shoes required, but that seems to be the only stipulation!

A well known, long time favorite live music scene among the local aficionados - and home to the beloved Professor LongHair (see photo). This was my favorite place to see the Neville Brothers and the Radiators perform.

Careful, parking is a nightmare. It's worth taking a taxi to and from.

You can order burgers and fries, oyster po-boys, etc, if you work up some hunger in between sets.

For the musical venue, be sure to call them or check out their website (included below).

Dress Code: Casual

Though they both share the same name, they are not the same bar. One is located directly across from the big parking lot next to Jackson Brewery, the other far away from the Quarter in the uptown area. Both bring in big name bands as well as local jazz and blues acts. To me this is a great place to start your night. Good music and some drinks while sitting and chatting with your friends before attacking the Quarter after the show.

Dress Code: Fahgitaboutit!

Tipitina's Fais-do-do on Sunday evening (Cajun); Snug Harbor (jazz/blues and great hamburgers!); Howling Wolf; Maple Leaf (Oak St); Mid-City Lanes Rock 'N Bowl (a most unique partying place at Tulane and Carrolton).

Dress Code: Very few nightclubs in New Orleans have a very strict dress code. You can be comfortable in jeans or tuxedo's in any of the venue's I've mentioned.