Many of them end only to start up again later and the shortest route between two points is often NOT a straight line. If you don't know your way around, you might need some maps of New Orleans. Check out my restaurant reviews. If you live in or come to New Orleans, one of the things you just have to do is stop by Cafe du Monde for some cafe au lait and beignets. Cafe au lait is a special blend of coffee with chicory blended half and half with scalding hot milk.
Beignets are a fried pastry covered with powdered sugar.
Cafe du Monde is open 24 hours a day every day but Christmas and hurricanes. Cafe du Monde started in 1862. In my opinion, the best time to most anything in the French Quarter is at night. There's an entirely differnet atmosphere at night than there is in the daytime. If you're at Cafe du Monde after dark, most nights you'll find John Brown the amateur astronomer with his telescopes set up right in front.