Listen closely on Frenchmen Street
The music corridor around Esplanade Avenue and Royal Street includes rooms such as Snug Harbor and The Spotted Cat. Jazz, blues and other styles give plenty of starting points for a shared evening. Check the individual programme and admission arrangements, and meet before the set somewhere that leaves room for conversation rather than talking over the performers.
Combine galleries and an evening downtown
Julia Street’s galleries offer an art-led beginning in the Arts and Warehouse District. Nearby music and performance venues include The Civic Theatre and Republic. Choose an exhibition or a specific show as the anchor, then add food nearby; the result feels more coherent than trying to sample every side of the city in one night.