Home FOOD & DINING Weekend Cheat Sheet: July 2015

Weekend Cheat Sheet: July 2015

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Wouldn’t it be great to be a kid again? The onset of summer tends to evoke an air of nostalgia, so why not spend July getting in touch with your inner child?

BigCheezyPRNFriday

Lunch At: Buttery, cheesy and oh-so ooey gooey, there’s nothing quite like a grilled cheese sandwich. Experience creative variations on a theme at The Big Cheezy, a brand-new sandwich shop near the corner of Tulane Avenue and Broad Street. Sink your teeth into a Willie Nelson with Gouda, roasted red pepper hummus, cucumber and sliced tomato or a Crazy Old Goat with goat cheese, jack, bacon, grilled peppers and red-pepper jelly. You can also dip your grilled cheese of choice in a cup of tomato-basil soup, or keep it simple with some sweet-potato fries. 422 1/2 S. Broad St., (504) 302-2598, thebigcheezy.com

Sip At: Don your poodle skirt and saddle shoes for a sweet trip to Jeri Nims Soda Shop inside The National WWII Museum. Named after local community benefactor and philanthropist Jeri Nims, the Soda Shop is the perfect spot to sit at the counter and sip Italian sodas or chocolate malts — all while remembering a better time. The Soda Shop makes its own ice cream daily, so if you’re in the mood for a sundae, they can lay it on thick — New Orleans style — with flavors like Creole cream cheese and Bananas Foster. 945 Magazine St., (504) 527-6012, nationalww2museum.org

Scream At: Bring enough extra cash for lots of buttery popcorn and an extra large box of Goobers, and head to the movie house for a big screen-lit evening at the Prytania Theatre. Open since 1915, the Prytania has long been the preferred movie theater for many Uptown residents. Even after the advent of huge cineplexes and IMAX, traditionalists and avid fans still return to the century-old theater again and again. So settle in for an evening of adventure with a great summer flick being released this month, like Jurassic World, or keep it classic with The Muppet Movie or The Goonies. 5339 Prytania St., (504) 891-2787, prytaniatheatreneworleans.com
Saturday

Breakfast At: Hang out under the oak trees in Mid-City, and dive into what many consider the best meal of the day at Wakin’ Bakin’. Located on Banks Street, right next to Mid City Pizza, Wakin’ Bakin’ offers breakfast and lunch every day of the week, whipping up dishes like the Big John (a sausage and cheddar biscuit that comes with a cup of coffee) or the breakfast bowl (grits, hash browns or black beans topped with cheddar, bacon and two eggs). 4408 Banks St., (504) 252-0343, wakinbakin.com

Cycle the City On: Spend the day viewing the city on a cool set of wheels from A Musing Bikes on Magazine Street. Not only does this shop sell some of the coolest cycles in New Orleans, A Musing Bikes also offers daily bike rentals starting at only $8 per hour. Pedal the afternoon away, and not only have a blast on a primo bike, but get the kind of exercise you haven’t had since you were 10 years old. Meander through the streets on a beach cruiser, or even on a 21-speed, and stop at your leisure — because every bike from A Musing includes a U-lock, a helmet and even safety lights. 1818 Magazine St., (504) 208-9779, amusingbikes.com

Taste the Future At: It seems quite possible that you might bump into Judy, Elroy, George and Astro at Atomic Burger on Veterans Boulevard. Try an ultra cool Atomic Freeze Milkshake created by a futuristic-type machine that freezes shakes with -321F nitrogen, mixing technology with flavors like cookies ’n’ cream, salted caramel, wedding cake and Nutella with marshmallow. Oh, did we mention their hand-ground, all-beef burgers and fries are out of this world too? 3934 Veterans Blvd., (504) 309-7474, theatomicburger.com
Sunday

Grab a Sweet Bite At: Sure, you might have doughnuts at the office from time to time, but when was the last time you went into a doughnut shop, sat down and enjoyed one (or three) of these irresistible pastries? The retired police officer-owned Blue Dot Donuts recently opened a second location in Uptown, inside a bright blue, converted double shotgun on Tchoupitoulas Street. Bring out the little kid in you, and devour a glazed, apple-filled beauty, or perhaps a Bavarian cream. It’s a shame to ignore the perfect, blueberry-glazed cake donuts, not to mention the maple bars with bacon, Key lime crumble or chocolate eclair. 5236 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 941-7675, bluedotdonuts.com

They All Asked for You At: Visit monkeys, tigers, elephants and a whole lot more during a wondrous and educational day spent at Audubon Zoo. Opened in 1914, our city’s most excellent animal arcade has grown into a park that covers almost 60 acres and includes more than 2,000 different animals. Aside from a stimulating and often interactive safari through the many animal exhibits, Audubon has all sorts of fun activities — from the Kamba (rope) Course and a Dinosaur Adventure to a splash park and Louisiana swamp exhibit. Audubon Zoo is open every day, and, remember, you don’t have to be a kid to play like one! 6500 Magazine St., (504) 861-2537, auduboninstitute.org

Slice it Up At: Spend a splendid Sunday evening on hopping Freret Street, and enjoy what is likely the city’s only Chicago-style deep-dish pizza at Midway Pizza. Feast on the Uptown Meatdown (heaped with pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, ham and bacon) or a King Creole (topped with a Creole/fredo sauce, garlic-marinated Gulf shrimp, tomato-basil relish and green onion). The popular pizzeria also features creative, fresh salads; tasty appetizers (roasted polenta cake, anyone?); and several types of flat bread. Plus, if you feel like being an adult again, Midway offers a great selection of local beers on tap. 4725 Freret St., (504) 322-2815, midwaypizzanola.com