Things to Do in Terrytown

After Frankie Cheek discovered segway tours while visiting Italy, he decided to start his own company in his native New Orleans. When he was boarding a plane back home, Hurricane Katrina struck, redirecting him to Louisiana’s grandfather country: France. While exploring Paris in the wake of the devastating tragedy back home, Cheek drew inspiration for his future segway tours—he was resolved, according to his website, to "help a city rich in history move forward while riding the most high-tech transporter available." Since returning to New Orleans, he’s led daily segway adventures, whirring groups of sightseers around the French Quarter, the riverfront, and Jackson Square with the ease, maneuverability, and safety-minded attitude of a cool biker gang. Plus, through a partnership with other tour companies, Cheek can also guide guests through swamps, plantations, and supposedly haunted locales.

Founded in 1976 by a group of ambitious visual and performing artists, the Contemporary Arts Center still keeps in touch with its roots as an artist-driven community organization. The award-winning design of its ever-changing gallery, atrium, and theater spaces juxtaposes the original architecture of a turn-of-the-century warehouse building with newer materials and aesthetics. Within its 30,000 feet of open event space, the CAC hosts a range of events, such as curated contemporary exhibitions, world and local music performances, and special galas such as the SweetArts Bash.

When not coordinating exhibitions and performances, the CAC staff also leads educational programs such as one-day art camps, which expose children and adults to the arts. In these programs, professional local artists train groups in drama, dance, music, visual arts, and creative writing.

Big Easy Scooters facilitates half- and full-day excursions throughout New Orleans with name-brand scooter rentals from Aprilia, Genuine, and Kymco. Equipped with helmets and accidental-damage insurance, guests can guide themselves through the historic French Quarter, pausing for glimpses of celebrity-owned residences and sprinklers that spray Sazerac. In addition to rentals, Big Easy Scooters sells previously owned and new scooters including classic models and agile Kymcos.

A Musing Bikes' owner, Gastavo, proudly owns and operates one of the newest shop additions to the lower garden district. The store outfits cyclers with new rides and rentals but also helps keep bikes in working order with new parts and repair services. Rentals are available by the hour, day, weekend, or week and all renters will be equipped with a u-lock, helmet, basket, and safety lights.

Though his rhythmic past runs through hip-hop and breaking culture, Derik Dollis broke ground on Liquid Rhythm Inc. after seeing how seamlessly club styles meshed with the ballroom art of salsa. Dollis and a quintet of additional instructors schooled in dance styles such as ballet and jazz use salsa's unmistakable rhythmic structure as a loose guideline, allowing students to break from the idea that they need to master tricks to succeed. Classes encourage dancers to develop a personal style while learning posture, isolations, and body movement in tandem with adding sensual flair and the least-prickly ways of holding a rose in your mouth. The company also totes its New Orleans pride across the country to perform at national salsa congresses.:m]]

At home in the French Quarter, the House of Blues New Orleans keeps its heritage ever near with a metal box of mud from the Mississippi Delta hidden beneath its stage. Around this, more than 290 pieces of folk art—one of the largest collections in the country—decorate the walls and cover up the evidence of indoor shot-put practice. Also bringing its Southern charm and homestyle feel are hardwood floors, no fewer than three bars, and two levels for concert viewing.