Local Bed and Breakfasts
An alternative to the hotel
By Rebecca Brych
Imagine one day being a successful maitre d’ at a prominent New Orleans restaurant and the owner of a bed & breakfast and less then a week later unable to secure a waiter position in Baton Rouge. This was the reality for one local man after Hurricane Katrina. So many lives were turned upside down in the weeks following the storm that each story seems like a bad version of the one before, but that is not always the case.
Local maitre d’ and owner of The Chimes Bed & Breakfast (1146 Constantinople St., 899-2621) in Uptown New Orleans, Mr. Charles Abbyad found that persistence and being in the right place at the right time can pay off.
Abbyad and his son weathered Katrina only to find that without electricity and the state of uncertainty that followed, it was wiser to leave behind their home and business and travel to Baton Rouge. Once settled with the rest of his family, Abbyad went to work finding employment. Even with his credentials, finding a position as a waiter was more difficult then he imagined.
He found himself working as a dining room manager and then he had the opportunity to move up to a back waiter. He accepted both of these positions, even if they were less then what he was use to. They both provided money, something everybody was in search of and desperate for. His persistence would pay off when, dressed in his back waiter uniform, he was asked, because of his experience, to manage several tables of VIPs. To his surprise, the tables were full of journalists and photographers in the area to cover Katrina and the aftermath.
Through a course of conversations and events, Abbyad and his wife found themselves part of a caravan of media representatives. The caravan included generators, an RV with fresh water and 17 journalists and photographers from around the world, including South Africa, Mexico, Miami and New York. They were all headed to Uptown New Orleans and the Chimes Bed and Breakfast. As the owner, Abbyad had agreed to come back to the city and open his B&B for the journalists that were having trouble finding a place to stay.
The group opened The Chimes and went to work together cleaning up debris. Several photographers climbed up the 40-foot roof and put tarps over areas that were damaged. While everybody was hard at work, Abbyad went to work as well. He pulled out the food he had bought before leaving Baton Rouge and prepared a three-course meal for everyone. It was the beginning of a long relationship, one that is still strong.
The journalists would keep the five rooms of the B&B full for the three months following the storm and then hold on to one room as an office for several more months. Abbyad kept to his work, providing 17 people three meals a day. He even treated his guests to several guest chefs during their stay.
The special relationship that was formed was more involved then most stays at a bed & breakfast and kept The Chimes in business through a difficult time in New Orleans. It is an example of what makes B&Bs a unique option for vacationers and business travelers alike.
There are many bed & breakfast businesses scattered throughout New Orleans. From Uptown to the French Quarter and down Esplanade Avenue, each offers a unique way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A B&B is the perfect way to enjoy New Orleans, with many options that are unique to the city. To make your vacation one to remember it is important to research your options and look for a bed and breakfast that best fits your style, transportation options, special options and budget.
If style is what you are looking for, you may consider one of the historic mansions that have been converted to B&Bs. Both the B&W Courtyards B&B (2425 Chartres St., 945-9418) located in the Marigny and the 1896 O’Malley House (120 S. Pierce St., 488-5896) in Mid-City are recent recipients of the Mayor’s Golden Hammer Award for Architectural Restorations.
The Avenue Inn (4125 Saint Charles Ave., 269-2640), located on famed St. Charles Avenue, is also a historic property that has converted an 1891 Thomas Sully Mansion into a peaceful reminder of the past. This property also gives its guests the ability to leave the rental car in the parking lot and travel on the historic St. Charles Streetcar line to the French Quarter and back.
Some visitors would rather be in the heart of the French Quarter, opting to stay at the Royal Barracks Guest House (717 Barracks St., 529-7269). There is still peace and tranquility even if your stay is in the Quarter. This property offers you queen sized beds, fireplaces and private entrances to a courtyard.
The Melrose Mansion (937 Esplanade Ave., 944-2255) on Esplanade is a Victorian gothic style mansion that was originally built in 1884 by James Freret for the Lanaux Family. If you are looking for a beautiful location for a wedding, ask about their packages.
For those that want to enjoy the B&B experience but are budget conscious, La Dauphine Residence des Artistes (2316 Dauphine St., 948-2217) may be a great option. Located in the Marigny, this property offers its guests a great location in one of New Orleans’ most unique neighborhoods and is just a short taxi ride from the French Quarter.
Whatever you are looking for, even after a hurricane, New Orleans bed & breakfasts are sure to fulfill your needs.
Imagine one day being a successful maitre d’ at a prominent New Orleans restaurant and the owner of a bed & breakfast and less then a week later unable to secure a waiter position in Baton Rouge. This was the reality for one local man after Hurricane Katrina. So many lives were turned upside down in the weeks following the storm that each story seems like a bad version of the one before, but that is not always the case.
Local maitre d’ and owner of The Chimes Bed & Breakfast (1146 Constantinople St., 899-2621) in Uptown New Orleans, Mr. Charles Abbyad found that persistence and being in the right place at the right time can pay off.
Abbyad and his son weathered Katrina only to find that without electricity and the state of uncertainty that followed, it was wiser to leave behind their home and business and travel to Baton Rouge. Once settled with the rest of his family, Abbyad went to work finding employment. Even with his credentials, finding a position as a waiter was more difficult then he imagined.
He found himself working as a dining room manager and then he had the opportunity to move up to a back waiter. He accepted both of these positions, even if they were less then what he was use to. They both provided money, something everybody was in search of and desperate for. His persistence would pay off when, dressed in his back waiter uniform, he was asked, because of his experience, to manage several tables of VIPs. To his surprise, the tables were full of journalists and photographers in the area to cover Katrina and the aftermath.
Through a course of conversations and events, Abbyad and his wife found themselves part of a caravan of media representatives. The caravan included generators, an RV with fresh water and 17 journalists and photographers from around the world, including South Africa, Mexico, Miami and New York. They were all headed to Uptown New Orleans and the Chimes Bed and Breakfast. As the owner, Abbyad had agreed to come back to the city and open his B&B for the journalists that were having trouble finding a place to stay.
The group opened The Chimes and went to work together cleaning up debris. Several photographers climbed up the 40-foot roof and put tarps over areas that were damaged. While everybody was hard at work, Abbyad went to work as well. He pulled out the food he had bought before leaving Baton Rouge and prepared a three-course meal for everyone. It was the beginning of a long relationship, one that is still strong.
The journalists would keep the five rooms of the B&B full for the three months following the storm and then hold on to one room as an office for several more months. Abbyad kept to his work, providing 17 people three meals a day. He even treated his guests to several guest chefs during their stay.
The special relationship that was formed was more involved then most stays at a bed & breakfast and kept The Chimes in business through a difficult time in New Orleans. It is an example of what makes B&Bs a unique option for vacationers and business travelers alike.
There are many bed & breakfast businesses scattered throughout New Orleans. From Uptown to the French Quarter and down Esplanade Avenue, each offers a unique way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A B&B is the perfect way to enjoy New Orleans, with many options that are unique to the city. To make your vacation one to remember it is important to research your options and look for a bed and breakfast that best fits your style, transportation options, special options and budget.
If style is what you are looking for, you may consider one of the historic mansions that have been converted to B&Bs. Both the B&W Courtyards B&B (2425 Chartres St., 945-9418) located in the Marigny and the 1896 O’Malley House (120 S. Pierce St., 488-5896) in Mid-City are recent recipients of the Mayor’s Golden Hammer Award for Architectural Restorations.
The Avenue Inn (4125 Saint Charles Ave., 269-2640), located on famed St. Charles Avenue, is also a historic property that has converted an 1891 Thomas Sully Mansion into a peaceful reminder of the past. This property also gives its guests the ability to leave the rental car in the parking lot and travel on the historic St. Charles Streetcar line to the French Quarter and back.
Some visitors would rather be in the heart of the French Quarter, opting to stay at the Royal Barracks Guest House (717 Barracks St., 529-7269). There is still peace and tranquility even if your stay is in the Quarter. This property offers you queen sized beds, fireplaces and private entrances to a courtyard.
The Melrose Mansion (937 Esplanade Ave., 944-2255) on Esplanade is a Victorian gothic style mansion that was originally built in 1884 by James Freret for the Lanaux Family. If you are looking for a beautiful location for a wedding, ask about their packages.
For those that want to enjoy the B&B experience but are budget conscious, La Dauphine Residence des Artistes (2316 Dauphine St., 948-2217) may be a great option. Located in the Marigny, this property offers its guests a great location in one of New Orleans’ most unique neighborhoods and is just a short taxi ride from the French Quarter.
Whatever you are looking for, even after a hurricane, New Orleans bed & breakfasts are sure to fulfill your needs.