A Walk on Magazine Street

SAKE CAFE

When eating at the Lavin-Bernick Center just doesn’t sound appealing — which is probably happening more and more often to you as the year drags on — and you’re desiring a more innovative and satisfying dining experience, then check out Sake Café on Magazine. The upscale sushi restaurant offers dishes that fuse New Orleans flavor with traditional Japanese dishes, like the Uptown and Jazz rolls. Though the menu is a bit pricey, the chic ambiance and modern setting make it an excellent date eatery or the kind of place for a fancy night out. - AH

STORYVILLE

Every wonder where people are getting all those clever screen print tees with New Orleans insides jokes on them? If so, then Storyville is the place for you. Storyville offers hundreds of designs from local artists, as well as the option to make a customized tee shirt for only $25. To make your shirt, choose from thousands of fonts, 25 different colors of American Apparel shirts and 15 different print colors. The mission of Storyville is to celebrate the “joie de vivre de Louisiane” while putting money back into the pockets of local artists. - AH

NACHO MAMA’S

There are quite a few funny food puns involving the word “nacho.” But don’t expect that clichéd quips to be the only thing served at the tasty Mexican eatery Nacho Mama’s. This independent Uptown restaurant has been a Magazine Street staple since 2001, and though there is another location in Elmwood, Tulane students frequent the former location for the convenience and allure of nightly drink specials, delicious food and a laid-back atmosphere. If you’re seeking “Nacho, Nacho Man” status, then indulge in a spicy Mexicali Shrimp wrap; the onions, crisp cucumbers and spinach tortilla kick up the flavor. -AH

4000 BLOCK

I should not be allowed to sing karaoke; putting me on stage with a crappy mike and a half-forgotten pop song is a really bad idea. However, one night at Buddha Belly on Magazine Street, my friends convinced me that singing a Shania Twain song I didn’t know would be the perfect end to an already eventful evening. I won’t go into the gory details of my epic failure as a four-minute country singer, but there is only one word I can use to describe my impromptu performance: fun. Even better, I wasn’t the worst singer, not by a long shot. Buddha Belly was filled with closeted Cher impersonators and MJ fanatics who made me sound like Aretha Franklin.

My evening as Shania is only one example of the many enjoyable nights I’ve spent wandering around that section of Magazine Street. Just a half-block away from Buddha Belly is Ms. Mae’s, a small, dusty little bar that boasts an air hockey table and offers dollar well drinks 24 hours a day. It’s a place frequented by graduate students, cool Tulane kids and more than a few natives — all of whom don’t mind striking up a conversation with the stranger sitting next to them.

A little farther up Magazine towards Cadiz Street is La Boulangerie, a renowned little bakery that makes batches of the best French bread every morning; their almond croissants are delectable, too. Or, if you need your bike repaired, head to Mike the Bike Guy near Napoleon Avenue to attend to all of your cycling needs. Craving the city’s best chicken curry? Dine at Nirvana to taste the dishes that rival even the spiciest Creole foods. Or, if soul food and pralines are more your style, stop by Tee Eva’s, right across from Buddha Belly, to grab some down-home New Orleans meals.

You’ll have fun on Magazine Street, no matter where you go. But do you want in on a little secret that will make your adventure extraordinary? Grab your bike, forget your map, and get lost on one of the coolest streets in New Orleans. - AM

RAM BIKES & REPAIRS

RAM Bikes and Repairs is located on 5115 Magazine St, but you wouldn’t know by looking at it. Though the front of the small white building is covered with graffiti, bike-pun bumper stickers, and valuable customer information (“NO REFUNDS, unless I really, really like you!”), the name of the place is nowhere to be found. At casual glance, it looks like an abandoned building.

However, RAM Bikes and Repairs is anything but. The shop itself is small, perhaps two or three times the size of a dorm room and crammed with mountain and road bikes that look used, but serviceable. Behind is where the bikes are built and repaired, a veritable elephant’s graveyard of rusty handlebars and dirty tires. The guys at RAM Bikes and Repairs are nice; I bought mine from them a few weeks ago for $50. Be warned, however: RAM Bikes and Repairs only accept cash, and (as the handwritten sign on the window cautions) don’t give refunds. Open from noon until 5:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday, RAM Bikes and Repairs is a great place to go for a cheap bike ($50-$250 range) and has as much character as you’d expect a New Orleans used-bicycle store to have. Just make sure you give your bike a test ride around the block first. - SG

FAIRY

There’s no better place to get in the spirit of overpriced Magazine Street boutique shopping than at this funky and whimsical shop on Magazine. Though the space is tiny, Fairy has managed to pack this cute store with an incredible amount of contemporary women’s fashions, baubles and every other imaginable material of girliness. They even have a separate makeup store in the back of the building called Pixie (504-895-5571). -AH

5000 BLOCK

From the 5700 to 5400 blocks of Magazine Street, there are a multitude of delights. With all things edible and wearable, the area is a must-see stop on Magazine. Strolling down the street, you pass Bee Sweet Cupcakes, a shop completely devoted to cupcake masterpieces. Across from Bee Sweet is Blue Frog Chocolates. Inside, the assortments of chocolates create a colorful wonderland. Blue Frog has chocolates for every occasion, especially this season: the Saints’ Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras. They even have Italian Candy Flowers that you can fashion into a bouquet.

Caddy corner from Blue Frog is Whole Foods Market. If you’re tired of the Boot Store or McAlister Market you should venture to Whole Foods; it’s definitely worth the walk. Not only do they have fresh produce, organic food and herbal medicinal essentials, they also boast an impressive ready-to-go food section. Their fresh bakery and wide varieties of gourmet cheese make it nearly impossible to leave Whole Foods empty-handed.

Farther down the street are many cute clothing stores, where Saints gear fills the windows. Scriptura offers hand-made papers, personalized wax seals, journals, pens and inks. It’s the perfect place to buy funky notebooks and unique stationery.

Across the street is Plum, a cutesy boutique that sells recycled items that have been converted into practical goods, such as chairs and bags. Plum also offers a variety of decorative items, jewelry and striking everyday household ware — even funny desk accessories, like a stapler that looks like a frog. It’s a convenient place to buy creative gifts.

Along this stretch of Magazine there is also a CC’s and a PJ’s. These coffee shops differ from Loyola’s and Tulane’s locations in that they have a more community-centered vibe. There’s a friendly and relaxed feeling, and they have a much less academic atmosphere, making them worth the trek.

SOUTHERN RUNNER

Don’t let the metal bars covering the front windows frighten you. The staff at Southern Runner will eagerly welcome you into their quaint and friendly store located on the 6100 block of Magazine Street. Commonly confused as a sporting goods outlet, Southern Running solely offers products that cater exclusively to runners and joggers. The store, founded in 1982, maintains a generous supply of the latest shoes, apparel and other equipment from all the major brands that cover your active needs.

Southern Runner specializes in technical footwear, offering customers the expertise and knowledge to find the perfect running shoe for each individual. The staff takes great pride in effectively administering the complicated process of shoe-fitting.

Southern Runner also encourages active participation in the sport by advertising current jogging clubs and race calendars throughout the area. For more experienced runners, the store has a large selection of brochures and flyers that promote races and marathons across the country. With walls adorned with various festive posters depicting past Crescent City Classics, Southern Runner adds a dash of New Orleans flavor to running. - TP