Shopping Magazine Street

On your mark, get set, shop! No, no, not at the mall, but on New Orleans’s Magazine Street instead. With dozens of specialty boutiques, galleries, and restaurants to choose from, your quest for the perfect presents will be in the bag.

Shopping Strategy
Before tackling Magazine Street, you need to know a couple of important things. First, this “avenue of dreams” is 6 miles long, so don’t think about attacking it all on foot. Drive your car, catch the Magazine bus, or take a cab (my favorite means of New Orleans transportation) to one of the farthest-away shops you want to browse. Work your way back to a restaurant or coffee shop for a break; then begin again. To plan your attack, order a free Magazine Street Shopper’s Guide online at www.magazinestreet.com, or call 1-866-679-4764.

Continue on to Empire Antiques (3617 Magazine). Even if you aren’t in the market for an 18th-century Dutch marriage armoire ($9,500), you’ll love browsing here. Time to indulge your girly side at Make Me Up (3426 Magazine), a skin-care-and-makeup boutique. The big seller? Cellex-C, a skin-care product used by actress Joan Collins. Say no more. Next door, Bellini awaits with its edgy clothing and accessories.

photo: Empire Antiques

Step right next door for a cool sweet stop―Sucré, a patisserie, gelateria, and chocolatier. Order a scoop of mango sorbet.

• Valentine's Day Collection
• Mardi Gras Collection