Local chefs concoct the traditional creole and Cajun dishes, as well as other ethnic specialties. Whether eating at one of the city s many elegant restaurants or neighborhood bistros, patrons enjoy a distinctive New Orleans taste. Music and Festivals New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, and is synonymous with blues, funk, and rhythm and blues. No other American city can claim as many diverse sounds and influential musicians. The annual Jazz and Heritage Festival each Spring draws hundreds of artists from all musical backgrounds and cultures to celebrate the City s musical tradition.
Music fans come from around the world for two weeks of concerts and outdoor musical events.
Throughout the rest of the year, frequent musical concerts and various clubs maintain the vibrant musical scene. Once a year, New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras. Aside from its reputation of revelry, Mardi Gras also preserves important local customs and rituals. Today, more than 60 different krewes hold parades during Mardi Gras Season. It also presents the annual New Orleans Film and Video Festival each October which features major and seldom screened works of film art from around the world, as well as independent projects.