Hundreds of New Orleans parents gave us their feedback on their favorites- from docs to party planning.
Favorite indoor play area
1. BooKoo Bounce (5604 Blessey St., 504.835.6424, bookoobounce.com)
2. The Monkey Room (1501 Religious St., 504.301.2695, monkeyroom.net)
3. Palm Tree Playground, (3011 N. Inst. 10 Svc. Rd. E, Metairie, palmtreeplayground.com)
Favorite outdoor play area/or park
1. City Park
2. Audubon Park
3. Lafreniere Park
3. Favorite place for water play
1. Cool Zoo at Audubon Zoo
2. Blue Bayou Water Park, Baton Rouge
3. Elmwood Fitness Center
4. Favorite museum for kids
1. Louisiana Children’s Museum (lcm.org)
2. New Orleans Museum of Art (noma.org)
3. Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium (auduboninstitute.org/visit/insectarium)
5. Favorite family friendly festival
1. Bayou Boogaloo
2. Jazz Fest
3. Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival
6. Favorite snowball stand/ice cream/cool treats
1. Sal’s Sno-Balls (1823 Metairie Ave., Metairie, 504.666.1823)
2. William’s Plum St. Snoballs (1300 Burdette St., 504.866.7996)
3. Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, (4801 Tchoupitoulas St., 504. 891.9788, snobliz.com)
7. Favorite bookstore for kids
1. Barnes and Noble (West Bank, Metairie and Mandeville locations)
2. Octavia Books (513 Octavia St., 504.899.7323, octaviabooks.com)
3. Maple Street Book Shop (7529 Maple St., 504.861.2105, maplestreetbookshop.com)
8. Favorite toy store
1. Le Jouet (1700 Airline Dr., Metairie, 504.837.0533, lejouet.com)
2. Toys R U (locations in Kenner, Metairie and Marrero)
3. Magic Box Toys (5508 Magazine St., 504.899.0117, magicboxneworleans.com)
9. Favorite nanny/sitting service
1. Nurture Nannies (504.920.9089, nurturenannies.com)
2. Fleur de Lis Nanny (504.722.5752, fleurdelisnanny.com)
3. Grandma
10. Favorite maternity boutique
1. Destination Maternity (3300 N Causeway Blvd, Metairie, 504.834.1960, destinationmaternity.com)
2. Baby Bump Maternity & Children’s, 2917 Magazine St.
3. ZukaBaby (2122 Magazine St., 504.304.2737, babybump.com)
11. Favorite baby boutique
1. ZukaBaby (2122 Magazine St., 504.596.6540, zukababy.com)
2. Pippen Lane (2929 Magazine St., 504.269.0106, pippenlane.com)
3. Banbury Cross (100 Atherton Dr., Metairie, 504.837.0447, banburycrossonline.com)
12. Favorite children’s boutique
1. Banbury Cross (100 Atherton Dr., Metairie, 504.837.0447, banburycrossonline.com)
2. Pippen Lane (2929 Magazine St., 504.269.0106, pippenlane.com)
3. Orient Expressed (3905 Magazine St., 504.899.3060, orientexpressed.com)
13. Favorite consignment boutique
1. Kid to Kid (3501 Severn Ave., Ste. 5B, Metairie, 504.455.5865, kidtokid.com/Metairie)
2. SWAP for Kids (7722 Maple St., 504. 218.5996, swapforkids.com)
3. Pickleberry Boutique (6601 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 504.889.2525)
14. Favorite bakery
1. Haydel’s Bakery (4037 Jefferson Hwy., Jefferson, 504.837.0190, haydelbakery.com)
2. La Boulangerie (4600 Magazine St., 504.269.3777)
3. (tie) Maple Street Patisserie (7638 Maple St., 504.304.1526, maplestreetpatisserie.com)
The Sweet Life Bakery (6268 Vicksburg St., 504.371.5153, nolasweetlife.com)
Honorable Mention: The PeaceBaker (6601 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 504.888.9094, thepeacebaker.com) which got a lot of notice in our survey as a delicious, gluten-free bakery.
15. Favorite restaurant for kid-friendly dining
1. New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. (three locations, nohsc.com)
2. Reginelli’s Pizzeria (numerous locations, reginellis.com )
3. Slice Pizzeria (1513 St. Charles Ave., and 5538 Magazine St., slicepizzeria.com)
16. Favorite restaurant for date-night dining
1. Ruth’s Chris Steak House (Metairie and New Orleans locations, ruthschris.com)
2. Clancy’s (6100 Annunciation St., 504.895.1111, clancysneworleans.com)
3. Houston’s (1755 St Charles Ave., 504.524.1578)
17. Favorite local grocery store
1. Rouses Supermarket (citywide, shop.rouses.com)
2. Langenstein’s (1330 Arabella St., and 800 Metairie Road, Metairie, langensteins.com)
3. Whole Foods Market, 5600 Magazine St., and 3420 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie
18. Favorite birthday party destination
1. BooKoo Bounce (5604 Blessey St., 504.835.6424, bookoobounce.com)
2. City Park
3. Palm Tree Playground (3011 N. Inst. 10 Svc. Rd. E, Metairie, palmtreeplayground.com)
19. Favorite outdoor party place
1. City Park
2. Audubon Park
3. Lafreniere Park
20.Favorite Party Rental
1. inflatable bounce house
2. snowballs
3. pony/zoo rental
21. Favorite birthday party entertainer
1. Zoo 2 U (504.756.1501, zoo2uparties.com)
2. clowns/characters
3. (tie) Porta-Puppet Players (504.469.7019, portapuppets.does.it)
Pony Tales ( 504.469.0148, ponytalesbirthdays.com)
Art from the Heart (504.416.1430, artfromtheheartevents.com)
22. Favorite birthday party supply place
1. Party City, Harahan and N.O. locations, partycity.com)
2. OrientalTrading.com
23. Favorite photographer
1. Michelle Bosco (504.723.0182, michelleboscophotography.com)
2. Twirl Photography (504388.8739, twirlphotography.com)
3. Blink Photography (504.494.7500, blinknola.com)
24. Favorite summer camp
1. (tie) Isidore Newman (newmansummer.com)
Jewish Community Center (nojcc.org)
2. Kidcam Camps (multiple locations, kidcamcamp.com)
3. Elmwood Fitness Center (elmwoodfitness.com)
25. Favorite swim school/lessons
1. Love Swimming (5221 S. Front St., 504.891.4662, loveswimming.com)
2. Elmwood Fitness Center (multiple locations, elmwoodfitness.com)
3. Jewish Community Center – Uptown (5342 St. Charles Ave., 504.897.0143, nojcc.org)
26. Favorite martial arts studio
1. Jewish Community Center (nojcc.org)
2. Tiger Rock (multiple locations, tigerrockmartialarts.com)
3. NOLA Aikido (3909 Bienville St, Ste. 103, 504.208.4861, nolaaikido.com)
27. Favorite dance studio
1. Debby Dillehay Dance Studio (3745 Florida Ave., Kenner, 504.468.3368, debbydillehaydance.com)
2. Dancer’s Pointe (5101 W Esplanade Ave., Metairie, 504.455.5975, dancers-point.com)
3. The Metropolitan Dance Theatre of New Orleans (300 Park Rd., Metairie, 504.481.5402, mdtdance.com)
28. Favorite gymnastics/cheerleading studio
1. Elmwood Fitness Center (Harahan, elmwoodfitness.com)
2. Ivanov’s Gymnastics (3930 Barron St., Metairie, 504.889.9800, ivanovsgymnastics.com)
3. Crescent City Gymnastics, 7800 Earhart Blvd.
29. Favorite fitness facility
1. Elmwood Fitness Center (multiple locations, elmwoodfitness.com)
2. Anytime Fitness (multiple locations, anytimefitness.com)
3. Jewish Community Center – Uptown (nojcc.org)
30. Favorite place for children’s haircuts
1. Kid’s Hair Etc. Salon (4524 Shores Dr., Metairie, 504.887.4543, kidshairetc.com)
2. Revive the Lakeview Hair Salon (234 W Harrison Ave., 504.265.87610
3. Supercuts (Uptown and Elmwood locations, supercuts.com)
31. Favorite pizza place
1. Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza (multiple locations, theospizza.com)
2. Slice Pizzeria (1513 St Charles Ave. & 5538 Magazine St., slicepizzeria.com)
3. Reginelli’s Pizzeria, (multiple locations, reginellis.com)
32. Favorite places to buy crawfish to go
1. Rouses Supermarket (citywide, shop.rouses.com)
2. Big Fisherman Seafood (3301 Magazine St., 504.897.9907, bigfishermanseafood.com)
3. Schaefer Seafood (1726 Lake Ave., Metairie, 504.833.3973)
33. Favorite family-friendly seafood joint
1. Deanie’s Seafood, (841 Iberville St., and 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, deanies.com)
2. New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. (three locations, nohsc.com)
3. R & O’s Restaurant (216 Metairie-Hammond Hwy., Metairie, 504.831.1248)
34. Favorite library branch
1. East Bank Regional Library
2. Milton H. Latter Branch
3. Robert E. Smith Branch (Lakeview)
35. Favorite free holiday event
1. Miracle on Fulton Street
2. Caroling in Jackson Square
3. Mardi Gras
36. Favorite holiday tea
1. Teddy Bear Tea at The Roosevelt New Orleans
2. Tea at the Windsor Court
3. Papa Noel Tea at The Ritz-Carton Hotel
37. Favorite kid-friendly Mardi Gras parade
1. Thoth
2. Muses
3. Little Rascals
38. Favorite place for beignets
1. Café du Monde
2. Morning Call
3. New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Co.
39. Favorite tutoring service
1. Sylvan Learning Center
2. Kumon Math and Reading Center
3. Teacher (local/school)
40. Favorite speech therapist
1. Gina Knight, M.A., C.C.C.-S.L.P. (New Orleans, 504.482.7888)
2. Patricia Gorman, M.A. (New Orleans, 504.701.3257)
3. (tie) Michaela Accardo, M.C.D., C.C.C.-S.L.P. (Kenner, 504.455.0983)
Kay Davis, M.A. (Kenner, 504.616.7710)
41. Favorite parenting class/center
1. The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital
2. Touro Infirmary
3. Ochsner
42. Favorite farmers’ market
1. Crescent City Farmers Market (multiple locations)
2. Hollygrove Market & Farm
3. Gretna Farmers Market
43. Favorite place to see nature
1. Audubon Zoo
2. City Park
3. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
44. Favorite family physician/internist
1. Jennifer Bertsch, M.D. (Crescent City Physicians – Uptown, 504.897.7007)
2. Meredith Maxwell, M.D. (Crescent City Physicians – Uptown, 504.897.7007)
3. Alan Yager, M.D. (East Jefferson Physicians Group, 504.888.8310)
45. Favorite OB/Gyn
1. Janet Ross, M.D. (Crescent City Physicians, Uptown, 504.897.8281)
2. E. Quinn Peeper, M.D. (Crescent City Physicians, Uptown & Westbank, 504.897.8281)
3. Javier Perez, M.D. (Crescent City Physicians, Mid-City, 504.252.9488 )
46. Favorite high-risk OB doctor
1. Ann Chau, M.D. (EJGH, 504.456.5446)
2. Joseph Miller, M.D. (multiple offices, including at EJGH, 504.456.5446, and Touro, 504.897.8213)
3. Janet Ross, M.D. (Crescent City Physicians, Uptown, 504.897.8281)
47. Favorite fertility doctor
1. Peter Lu, M.D. (The Fertility Institute, Metairie, 504.454.2165)
2. Dr. Sissy Sartor, M.D. (The Fertility Institute, Metairie, 504.454.2165)
3. Richard Dickey, M.D., Ph.D. (The Fertility Institute, Metairie, 504.454.2165)
48. Favorite pediatrician
1. Stephen Hales, M.D. (Hales Pediatrics, 504.897.0744)
2. Keith Collins, M.D. (Collins Pediatrics, Metairie, 504.832.8022)
3. Nora Oates, M.D. (Hales Pediatrics, 504.897.0744)
49. Favorite pediatric group
1. Hales Pediatrics (3525 Prytania St., 504.897.0744)
2. Collins Pediatrics (2017 Metairie Rd., 504.832.8022)
3. Napoleon Pediatrics (2820 Napoleon Ave., 504.897.4242)
50. Favorite orthodontist
1. G. Bradley Gottsegen, D.D.S. (Gottsegen Orthodontics, Metairie and Uptown, 504.454.6272, 504.266.0136)
2. Jamie Toso, D.D.S. (Toso Orthodontics, 504.899.8383)
3. Leeann Evans, D.D.S. (Evans Orthodontics, Metairie, 504. 301.3413 )
51. Favorite pediatric dentist
1. Kellie S. Axelrad, D.D.S. (Metairie, 504.833.5528)
2. Stephen C. Holmes, D.D.S. (New Orleans, 504.896.7435)
3. (tie) Jason Parker, D.D.S. (Metairie, 504.831.2120 )
Bippo’s Place for Smiles (New Orleans and Northshore, bipposplace.com)
52. Favorite family dentist
1. Robert Camenzuli, D.D.S. (New Orleans, 504.895.3400)
2. (tie) Cowley Dental Care (Metairie, 504.831.4895)
Kim Tolar, D.D.S. (New Orleans, 504.891.1880)
3. Mark Schott, D.D.S. (New Orleans, 504.283.5557)
53. Favorite dermatologist
1. Audubon Dermatology (Drs. Deirdre Hooper & Sarah Jackson, New Orleans, 504.895.3376)
2. Robert Koppel, M.D. (Marrero & Metairie, 504.454.1885)
3. (tie) Barbara Bopp, M.D. (Metairie, 504.455.9933)
J. Coller Ochsner, M.D. (Metairie, 504.831.6633)
54. Favorite plastic surgeon
1. Michael Moses, M.D., F.A.C.S. (New Orleans, 504.895.7200)
2. Ali Sadeghi, M.D. (Crescent City Physicians, Uptown, 504.210.3831)
3. (tie) Felix Bopp, M.D. (Metairie, 504.455.9933)
Stephen E. Metzinger, M.D., F.A.C.S. (Aesthetic Surgical Associates, Metairie, 504.309.7061)
55. Favorite hospital for having a baby
1. Touro Infirmary
2. East Jefferson General Hospital
3. Tulane-Lakeside Hospital
56. Favorite hospital for emergency care for children
1. Children’s Hospital
2. Ochsner
3. Tulane Pediatric Emergency Room